Technology SOSC111
SOSC111
Science Society
Science, Technology & Society
L20
Culture and Technology
Overview
Overview
I. What is culture?
Wh
II. Culture influences on technologies
1. Four-sided courtyard () in Beijing
2. Automobile-centered architecture in U.S.
III. Culture influences on technological
practice
practice
1. Fordism () a culture of mass
production and deskilling
production and deskilling
2. Alternative production culture in Japan
Culture and Cultures
What is your definition of culture?
Opera, Ballet, Art?
Opera, Ballet, Art?
Peoples behaviour?
Peoples values and attitudes?
values and attitudes?
What do we mean by a distinct culture?
A civilization like the Chinese
lik th Chi
A sub-group of the population like in youth
subculture ()
II Culture influences on technologies
II. Culture influences on technologies
1. Chinese Ancestral Hall an example
of culture and architecture (technology)
2. Automobile culture in the U.S.
1. The Chinese Ancestral Hall ()
Most
Private
Most Senior
Family Quarters
Alleyway
Most
Public
Most Junior
Family Shrine
Family Shrine
One of the most
important spaces in
spaces in
Chinese homes was
reserved for the
reserved for the
family's ancestors.
Beijings Family Courtyards:
Siheyuan ()
four-sided courtyard house
courtyard house
Four-sided courtyard house
Two-courtyard house
Two-courtyard house
1. Main entrance
Main entrance
2. Rooms facing the rear. The rooms
facing the back, those near the entrance
to the courtyard were reserved for the
servants if the family was well-off.
3. First courtyard. Cooking was carried
Fi
out here, and the second courtyard was a
living space
living space.
4. East and west-side rooms, for the sons
and daughters, or the sons' families.
5. Inner Hall. Where the members of the
family greeted guests or where family
ceremonies were held.
6. Main building. Living space for
parents.
parents.
7. Small side rooms. These used for
children and extended family members.
The Shape of the Chinese home is
Influenced by Culture
Cultural Factors
Confucianism: defining relationship between
defining relationship between
various groups of people
Political structures: the shape should reflect
structures: the shape should reflect
the power structure in society
Building codes keep the cultural norms as
th
standard to follow by generations.
2. United States: The centrality ()
automobile culture in home architecture
In the US, the architecture of homes have
changed as the car became more important
part of the everyday life
or we could say car has becoming an
important part of American suburban culture
()
From the times when a garage was a
supplementary structure behind the house,
the garage has now become a prominent
part of a US home
Ga
Garage as supplementary structure of a house
as supp
Alleyway
Garage
House
Walkway
Street
Garage
House
Driveway
Street
House
Street
Garage becomes a prominent structure of a house
House
Garage
Street
Car and home architecture in the
Car and home architecture in the U.S.
Influence of the Automobile in the US
We see how the garage gradually started to dominate
residential architecture
The popularity of the car was also an expression of
important characteristics of American culture
The importance of indi
The importance of individualism and independence
independence
Your own space with you at the control!
Now the automobile is essential for modern life in the US
the automobile is essential for modern life in the US
Car culture has led to extensive suburbanization ()
where everyone lives far away from their work places in the
everyone lives far away from their work places in the
city.
Drive-in Theatre &
Drive-through fastfood
Drive-in
theatres are still
popular in the
th
U.S..
Drive Through
fastfood
fastfood are
everywhere in
the
the U.S.
Sonic Drive
Sonic Drive-in
The Sonic Drive-in
Fastfood Chain has more
than 1250 locations in the US
than 1250 locations in the US.
In the U.S., without a Car
you will have to walk on the street
your children cannot go to school
how would you buy your groceries?
how would you go to work?
how would you go to work?
Without a drivers license, you cannot buy a
TV on credit or get bank loan
TV on credit, or get a bank loan
School
Home
Automobile
Office
Mall
Grocery
Hong Kong Homes and
Automobiles
Most residential development in Hong Kong
includes some facilities for cars
includes some facilities for cars
But generally, these are only designed to serve a
few families minimum:
few families, minimum:
Public Rental 1 Estates: car space per 13-16
flats
flats
Home Ownership Schemes and Private Sector
Participation Schemes
Participation Schemes (including Housing Society
Housing Society
Estates): 1 car space per 5-8 flats.
Residential Parking (scene of a
crime)
Hong Kong Culture is not yet so
Dependent on Cars
It is still widely accepted that people use public
transportation
So many property developers want to build close
to MTR or KCR stations
People would rather eat together in a restaurant
than eat by themselves in a car
Most people watch movies at home or in movie
theatres
III. Culture also influences
technological practice
Culture is not only evident in architecture or buildings it
also influences people in organizations
The cultural values of a society can influence research
priorities of scientists in the laboratory
Example: Political loyalty was demanded from Robert
Oppenheimer in the US. He was barred from nuclear
research projects because he became an opponent of
US nuclear policy.
The engineers in private firms also have to submit to the
cultural values of the owners.
1. A New Culture of Mass
Production: Assembly Line
In the early 20th century, factory production took a new
th
20th
turn with the development of line-assembly mass
production methods.
production methods.
The first person to do this was Henry Ford and the Ford
automobile company.
In 1906 he decided to build a "car for the masses." It
would be inexpensive, simple, and easy to make. This
was the Model T.
By producing millions of cars, Ford could sell them at a
very low price.
AT the same time, he raised the salary of his worker to
$5/day so the worker can afford to buy the Model
$5/day, so the worker can afford to buy the Model T.
Ford Model
Ford Model T
In 1919, Ford began
producing Model Ts in the
producing Model Ts in the
new River Rouge facility.
This was the beginning of
This was the beginning of
mass production.
1915 500
1915: 500,000 cars/year
1919: 800,000 cars/year
1923: 2,000,000 cars/year
Fordism (): assembly
line mass production
Production was controlled by the engineering
th
department. The engineering department alone
could issue changes in design or work schedules
could issue changes in design or work schedules.
Jobs were broken down into small steps that
required little skill (minimum skill requirements)
required little skill. (minimum skill requirements)
Workers did the same thing, over and over again
(repetition).
(repetition).
mechanically controlled work pace (assembly line)
predetermined operating procedures
operating procedures
small fraction of the total product worked on
superficial mental attention
mental attention
Video Clip
Video Clip
Modern Times, Charlie Chaplin (1936).
Ti
Ch
(1936)
Charlie Chaplin plays a worker on an assembly line.
Years earlier Chaplin had actually toured Fords River
Rouge plant.
Background of the film
After Great Depression (1929)
Fordist style factory
high unemployment
alienation ()
All men: factory work = masculinity
Police: control social order or factory order?
2. Alternatives?
Alternatives?
Is it possible to have high efficiency without
deskilling, without increasing managerial
control?
We have already seen one example: the
have already seen one example: the
Toyota automobile factory.
Japanese Companies like Toyota do use
western production techniques (line assembly
western production techniques (line assembly
mass production), but they have not chosen
to greatly deskill their workers
to greatly deskill their workers.
Technology as a Complement, not
a Substitute : Japanese case
In a patriarchal () culture, workers were considered
part of the corporate family.
Workers subordinate to the managers
In return, worker get more training and are partners in the
design of the product and production process. (remember
quality control?)
Japanese workers are less likely to feel alienated ()
from their work.
Both the technology that they use, and the organization
they are part of, are arranged to make use of their skill.
A Different Culture
Another
Technological Practice
The Japanese case shows how a different
culture can come to a different understanding of
the workplace (and technology).
Just as in previous examples, this
as in previous examples this
understanding becomes embodied in the design
and organization of technology.
When we assume that there is only one path for
greater technological and economic
greater technological and economic
development, then we have failed to understand
all the possibilities
all the possibilities.