Beyond Engineering: How Society Shapes Technology

In Beyond Engineering: How Society Shapes Technology, Pool proposes that society is shaped by technology as in some nations, technology thrives while in others, it is a detriment. An example that Pool provides is the success of the nuclear reactor in France, but the failure of implementation of the same technology in the US. Another prime example of society shaping technology is the extinction of the production of steam engine cars due to the high price and a cheaper alternative, the gasoline car. Pool also states that the uncertainty due to the complexity of modern technology is a contributing factor in failures as society is unable to accurately predict the outcomes that may result. I agree with Pool as a large portion of society is unable to comprehend the complex nature of modern technology and that only small subset of specialists understand and share complex ideas. With that said, even without a full understanding, society still greatly influences technology. Everyone has their own opinion on technology as the effects on society are clearly visible in our everyday lives. As a result people tend towards innovations that allow for short term benefit as the long term results are only obvious to the specialists. Educating society about the impacts of technology would be pivotal in moving towards a society that shapes technology in a sustainable manner.