Comments on: The non-study of non-emerging tech http://www.gustavholmberg.com/magnitude/2005/07/11/the-non-study-of-non-emerging-tech/ Mon, 12 May 2008 00:08:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Anne http://www.gustavholmberg.com/magnitude/2005/07/11/the-non-study-of-non-emerging-tech/#comment-1904 Anne Tue, 12 Jul 2005 17:16:34 +0000 http://www.gustavholmberg.com/magnitude/2005/07/11/the-non-study-of-non-emerging-tech/#comment-1904 I also think that focussing only on emerging tech is off - but then we really need to be clear about what we consider "emerging". For example, if you are studying something from 1940 to present, then your subject is both historical and emerging. My own study of pervasive computing spans over 20 years - the technological practices definitely change over time, and the old becomes new again. I think the focus on the new and exciting is not just a problem of STS, but a broader concern related to media and marketing forces, amongst other things. The challenge in my mind is to understand when things change and when they don't, and then to figure out why... I also think that focussing only on emerging tech is off - but then we really need to be clear about what we consider “emerging”.

For example, if you are studying something from 1940 to present, then your subject is both historical and emerging. My own study of pervasive computing spans over 20 years - the technological practices definitely change over time, and the old becomes new again.

I think the focus on the new and exciting is not just a problem of STS, but a broader concern related to media and marketing forces, amongst other things. The challenge in my mind is to understand when things change and when they don’t, and then to figure out why…

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