Synchronizing science and technology with human behaviour / Ralf Brand.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Brand, Ralf.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Technology--Social aspects.

Technology.

Sustainable development.

Physical Description:

x, 174 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

London ; Sterling VA : Earthscan, 2005.

Summary:

Arguing that technical and social realms are much more connected than most people concerned with sustainability tend to admit, the author has developed an innovative and integrated strategy that encourages planners, architects and politicians to work with end-users in 'co-designing' technologies and infrastructures that make socially desired behaviours more attractive. Having explained the nature of the problem, the author outlines key concepts and shared characteristics of co-evolutionary projects and anticipates possible criticisms. Through detailed analysis and diverse case studies, the reader is presented with a clear picture of a more holistic approach to planning sustainable cities and regions, which will be invaluable for students and professionals alike.

This will be an invaluable textbook and planning tool suitable for students of science and technology studies (STS), regional policy and planning, and practitioners including city and regional planners, policy makers and consultants.

Contents:

2 The Nature of the Problem 7

The technical-fix approach 7

The behavioural-fix approach 16

Ringing bells 22

The seamless web 25

3 Co-evolution in Action 35

Hasselt 36

Furstenfeldbruck 55

4 Towards a Theory of Co-evolution 67

Limits to describe are limits to imagine 67

Co-evolution as deliberate symbiosis 71

The memetics of co-evolution 72

5 Memes of Co-evolution 77

New technologies provide a new range of choices 77

New technologies make socially desired behaviours attractive 82

Participation facilitates synchronic pre-adaptation 87

New technologies require social embedding 94

Strategic alliances are more productive than ideological purity 98

Inventiveness enables a departure from the prevailing discourse 104

Critical mass is crucial to overcome path dependencies 114

Definition of co-evolution 118

6 Anticipation of Criticism 123

Co-evolution is old wine in new bottles 123

Established professions will undermine co-evolution 125

Common sense is not susceptible to co-evolution 129

Co-evolution is not radical enough 132

Co-evolution is too radical 134

Co-evolution sets the fox to guard the geese 136

Co-evolution only works under strong leadership 139

Assessing structural frames 147

Creating awareness of contingency 149

Assisted problem definition 150

The search for solutions 151.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [155]-168) and index.

ISBN:

1844072517

1844072479

OCLC:

61748290

Publisher Number:

9781844072514 (hbk.)

9781844072477 (pbk.)