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Technological Society (technological + society)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Humanities and Social Sciences	42%
Psychology	28%

Selected Abstracts

Planning and the Technological Society: Discussing the London Plan

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF URBAN AND REGIONAL RESEARCH, Issue 2 2010
YVONNE RYDIN
Abstract The sustainable development agenda has influenced the focus of urban planning policy in many countries and localities; this article argues that its influence has been much more widespread, affecting not just the content of planning but also its discourses and practices. This reflects more profound shifts within society , shifts that put the governance of technology firmly centre-place. Using a case study of the London Plan (the spatial development strategy for London), the discussion considers how recent debates on the Plan are being shaped by the need to focus on technological issues. Using Barry's and Feenberg's explorations of the technological society, the analysis identifies key features such as the contestation of evidence and expertise, the focus on technical details and the resultant reframing of policy discourse. The article concludes with suggestions as to the ways in which planning may change in the future. Résumé Les préoccupations liées au développement durable ont influé sur le c,ur des politiques d'urbanisme dans de nombreux pays et localités. Leur influence s'est révélée beaucoup plus vaste, affectant non seulement le contenu, mais aussi les discours et pratiques en matière d'aménagement. Cette situation traduit des mutations plus profondes de la société, mutations qui donnent à la gouvernance de la technologie une solide prééminence. À partir d'une étude de cas sur le London Plan (stratégie d'aménagement spatial de Londres), est examinée la façon dont les récents débats sur le Plan sont modelés par la nécessité de s'attacher aux aspects technologiques. S'appuyant sur les explorations de la société technologique menées par Barry et par Feenberg, l'analyse identifie des caractéristiques dominantes telles que la contestation des éléments factuels et de l'expertise, la focalisation sur des détails techniques et, donc, le recadrage du discours de l'action publique. La conclusion présente les possibles évolutions futures de l'aménagement du territoire. [source]

Explanatory Variables for per Capita Stocks and Flows of Copper and Zinc

JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY, Issue 1-2 2006
Claudia R. Binder
A number of potential explanatory variables for the stocks and flows of copper and zinc in contemporary technological societies are co-analyzed with the tools of exploratory data analysis. A one-year analysis (circa 1994) is performed for 50 countries that comprise essentially all anthropogenic stocks and flows of the two metals. The results show that (1) The key explanatory variable for metal use is gross domestic product (GDP) per capita (purchasing power parity, PPP). By itself, GDP explains between one-third and one-half of the variance of per capita copper and zinc use. Other variables that were significantly correlated with copper and zinc use included stock of passenger cars and television sets (per 1, 000 people); two infrastructure variables, wired telephone connections, urban population, and value added inmanufacturing. The results do not provide evidence supporting the Kuznets curve hypothesis for these metals. (2) Metal use per capita can be estimated using multiple regression equations. For copper, the natural logarithm of use is related to the explanatory variables GDP (PPP), value added in manufacturing, and urban population. This model explains 80% of the variance among the different countries (r2= 0.79). The natural logarithm of zinc use is related to GDP (PPP) and value added in manufacturing with an r2 of 0.75; (3) For both metals, rates of metal fabrication, use, net addition to stock, and discard in low-and high-income countries differ significantly from each other. Our statistical analyses thus provide a basis for estimating the potential development of metal use, net addition to stock, and discard, using data on explanatory variables that are available at the international level. [source]

Adults with self-reported learning disabilities in Slovenia: Findings from the international adult literacy survey on the incidence and correlates of learning disabilities in Slovenia

DYSLEXIA, Issue 4 2003
Lidija Magajna
This study of adults with self-reported learning disabilities (SRLD) in Slovenia is part of a larger secondary analysis of the data from the International Literacy Survey project (IALS). The purpose of the study was to examine the characteristics of 79 (2.68%) individuals who reported experiencing learning disabilities and compare them to the general population on a variety of indicators of educational background, employment status, and reading and writing activities at work and at home. The proficiency scores of the SRLD individuals were lower in all three literacy domains (prose, document and quantitative literacy). In prose literacy 77.9% of SRLD adults performed at Level 1 and only 7.8% reached the level necessary for a modern technological society. Experiencing learning disabilities was not related to gender or age, however, results showed significant differences between the levels achieved by older and younger people with SRLD. In SRLD groups aged 40 years and above, no one achieved more than the second level of literacy in any domain. Learning disabilities were reported more frequently in rural areas. SRLD groups achieve significantly lower educational attainment, and lower employment status, with a preference for manual labour or craft. These findings are of critical importance. SRLD people report that poorer literacy skills are an obstacle to their progression in employment. In the Slovene sample, the SRLD group stands out for low scores in quantitative literacy. Results show that they are less active, pick up information only auditorily or in short written form. They need more frequent help from relatives in literacy activities. Interpretation of the IALS data on SRLD presents many problems. These include amongst others, problems in terminology, different background factors, and the validity of self-report measures. However, the study also raises many interesting challenges for future research and policy. Increasing the availability of support, assistance and counselling for adolescents and adults with learning disabilities remains a very important goal for dyslexia and LD policies in Slovenia. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Errors in technological systems

HUMAN FACTORS AND ERGONOMICS IN MANUFACTURING & SERVICE INDUSTRIES, Issue 4 2003
R.B. Duffey
Massive data and experience exist on the rates and causes of errors and accidents in modern industrial and technological society. We have examined the available human record, and have shown the existence of learning curves, and that there is an attainable and discernible minimum or asymptotic lower bound for error rates. The major common contributor is human error, including in the operation, design, manufacturing, procedures, training, maintenance, management, and safety methodologies adopted for technological systems. To analyze error and accident rates in many diverse industries and activities, we used a combined empirical and theoretical approach. We examine the national and international reported error, incident and fatal accident rates for multiple modern technologies, including shipping losses, industrial injuries, automobile fatalities, aircraft events and fatal crashes, chemical industry accidents, train derailments and accidents, medical errors, nuclear events, and mining accidents. We selected national and worldwide data sets for time spans of up to ,200 years, covering many millions of errors in diverse technologies. We developed and adopted a new approach using the accumulated experience; thus, we show that all the data follow universal learning curves. The vast amounts of data collected and analyzed exhibit trends consistent with the existence of a minimum error rate, and follow failure rate theory. There are potential and key practical impacts for the management of technological systems, the regulatory practices for complex technological processes, the assignment of liability and blame, the assessment of risk, and for the reporting and prediction of errors and accident rates. The results are of fundamental importance to society as we adopt, manage, and use modern technology. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Hum Factors Man 13: 279,291, 2003. [source]

Planning and the Technological Society: Discussing the London Plan

Early Education for Spatial Intelligence: Why, What, and How

MIND, BRAIN, AND EDUCATION, Issue 3 2010
Nora S. Newcombe
Spatial representation and thinking have evolutionary importance for any mobile organism. In addition, they help reasoning in domains that are not obviously spatial, for example, through the use of graphs and diagrams. This article reviews the literature suggesting that mental spatial transformation abilities, while present in some precursory form in infants, toddlers, and preschool children, also undergo considerable development and show important individual differences, which are malleable. These findings provide the basis for thinking about how to promote spatial thinking in preschools, at home, and in children's play. Integrating spatial content into formal and informal instruction could not only improve spatial functioning in general but also reduce differences related to gender and socioeconomic status that may impede full participation in a technological society. [source]

Aestheticized Politics,1 or the Long Shadow of Ernst Jünger's "Old Testament?"

ORBIS LITERARUM, Issue 1 2000
Karlheinz Hasselbach
In his "Old Testament," inasmuch as its legacy crystallizes in the essay The Worker (1932), Jünger conceives of an anti-bourgeois, technological society whose signature is the rule of soldier cum technocrat. Without renouncing its theories, the author appears to reverse himself in his subsequent writings, notably in the fictitious works On the Marble Cliffs (1939) and Heliopolis (1949). However, the aestheticism of the essay also informs his later fiction, both casting doubt on the nature of the reversal and handicapping a proper appreciation of the author's politics. It will be argued that, while Jünger's aesthetic perception of reality has evolved intact from his "Old Testament," there is sufficient evidence in both his writing and conduct to contradict the captivating notion that aestheticized politics equals fascism. [source]