Title
On universality in productive and information technology
Abstract
Information science has differentiated information technology from productive technology, but the common concept of technology remains largely unexplored. A view of technology as a human construction, applied to productive technology, has begun to be developed to comprehend information technology. Information technology is regarded as a form of knowledge concerned with the transformation of signals from one form or medium into another Analogous, although not identical, concepts of universality can be distinguished for both productive technology and for information technology. The steam engine has been regarded as a universal source of motive power and of the computer as a universal information machine. Universality helps account for the wide adoption of the steam engine and the computer For both forms of technology, theoretical considerations related to universality and working constructions embodying universality have, in contrasting ways, been partly separate developments. Further possibilities offered by a view of information technologies as human constructions are indicated.
Year
DOI
Venue
1999
10.1108/EUM0000000006975
ASLIB PROCEEDINGS
Keywords
Field
DocType
information technology,internet
Data science,Telecommunications,Industrial technology,Information technology,Sociology,Technology education,Information science,Steam engine,Motive power,Universality (philosophy),The Internet
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
51
5
0001-253X
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
0
0.34
4
Authors
1
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Julian Warner1359.40