The Dynamics of Technology
Volume 17, Number 2 Article by Vinod K Huria June, 2005
The Dynamics of Technology: Creation and Diffusion of Skills and Knowledge:Edited by Roddam Narasimha, J Srinivasan and S K Biswas, Sage Publications, New Delhi, 2003, pp 301, Price: Rs 560. :
Like any work of art or technology, no book is ever complete or perfect. But this book will far exceed the expectations of a scholar interested in the history and impact of science and technology. Exploring every aspect of technology, including the historical, cultural, economic, engineering, political, philosophical and religious, it addresses questions such as: How is technology created and diffused? How does it work? What are the sources of its power – social, economic, cultural or political?
This holistic view of technology is evident right from the introductory chapter, which compares technology to a powerful engine, whose creation and maintenance require ‘armies of engineers, ideas from science, research and development, the pressures and constraints of the market place and national security, the skills and tacit knowledge that reside in the technical and artisanal people, the knowledge built by and available to each nation or company, and the financial resources that banks, government and other institutions can command and provide’. The editors adeptly weave together in the introduction the themes that follow. The book is a compilation of ten essays, written by historians, scientists, engineers, economists and sociologists – leading practitioners and scholars from the East and the West, who provide a balanced insight into the nature of the powerful forces that drive the world of technology.
The range of the subjects dealt with is diverse; material design and processing, energy and economics, ideas and idealism, engineering education, and the survivability and transformation of cultures in the information technology era. The book begins by narrating the cultural factors that have influenced technology development, and comes full circle at the end by examining how technology can affect culture. Engineering being an integral component of technology, both the engineering process and engineering education have been discussed at length. The editors concur that, though engineers have remained in the background because they are not very articulate about the social, economic and political concerns of technology, they have spectacularly altered or created the world we live in.
Hiroshi Sato has adeptly handled the subject of technology transfer in his essay on ‘Transplanting Technology: Two Episodes in Japanese History’ . Japan stands out as an exclusive example of technology transplants that took place in Japan during the 5-8th century invasion from China, and later in the mid-nineteenth century by Western technologists. It realised that its ‘closed-door’ isolation policy was no longer tenable, rapidly switched gear to follow the precepts of import, absorb and improve, and has established itself as a global force in electronics, automobiles, and now in biotechnology.
Roddam Narasimha’s historical narration on ‘Science, Technology and Society: A Tale about Rocket Development during 1750-1850’ elucidates the technological advancements of metallurgy and related art and science in India. It describes the superior design and performance of Mysore rockets (over the European) that were used by Tipu Sultan in the eighteenth century. The essay also stresses that technology is not always applied science; the relationship between the two can also be inverted. In the following essay, Robert W Cahn discusses the discovery of new materials and their process technology. K Balasubramanian and P Rama Rao elaborate on the complex array of activities, called the product creation process, which follows the discovery of new materials. The idea of product development revolves around identifying needs, creating and designing products and then shaping them for commercial production. The process chain between idea and the producton- the-market-shelf is long and arduous, and innovation plays a significant role. Ashok Ganguly emphasises that quality and speed in reaching the market distinguishes leaders from the others, and being the first to the market is crucial, which can only be achieved through effectively managed R&D that is integrated with business.
In the context of finite and exhaustible energy resources, it is important to understand the concept of ‘total energy life cycle’, enunciated by Sir Hugh Ford, which has the potential to shape our future in devising, making and using products and services. Ford elevates the entire energy issue to a philosophical level by stating that ‘Today’s whole crazy edifice depends, not upon increasing our material wealth, but in destroying it after a relatively short life, in favour of something new in order to keep the edifice from tumbling’. The whole definition of wealth needs rethinking. Such wise observations are numerous in the book, and they stimulate the thought process to arrive at a better understanding of the intricate issues that tend to become even more complex with technological advancements. The book maintains a delicate balance between the theories and their historical contexts.
The essay on ‘Ideas and Idealism in Technology’ by Arnold Pacey delves into the fascinating relationship between inventors and entrepreneurs, and how ideas in science get transformed into practical applications through technology. The essay concludes that personal idealism drives ideas, which lead to innovations that feed industry, and consequent development. But since everything ultimately has a cost, economic conditions set the limits on how far technical ideals could be pursued privately. Idealistic impulses play a more vital role than is usually recognised: the Eiffel Tower, Sir George Cayley’s gliders and the Wright Brothers’ airplanes stand out as perfect examples of private technologies driven by passion.
This is rare and stimulating book, bringing to life the ideas and ideals of technology, and illustrating the ways in which technology draws on the forces of nature, science, society, culture, marketplace and finance to transform the world. The book will be of immense utility to scholars of the social and natural sciences, and professionals dealing with the engineering and technical aspects of technology, as well as to the general reader, who stands to benefit from the knowledge and wisdom of seasoned professionals and scholars from different fields.
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