What’s in the drivers seat?Technology or Society

The Views of Ruth Schwartz Cowan

EDL 733Huddle Assignment 1Molly Doughterty, Michelle Harris, Krystle Nemeth

About the authorRuth Shwratz Cowan considers herself an

author, educator, and an historian of science, technology, and medicine.

Understanding the social meaning of scientific, technological, and medical change is Cowan’s career-long goal.

“ She learned, early on, that every scientific discovery and every technological change has had its supporters as well as its detractors—the folks who said “Wow! This is terrific!” as well as the folks who said “Wow! This is awful!”—and she has been trying to understand and explain that phenomenon ever since.” (Cowan, 2013)

Educational Background Info.Currently teaches the History of Sociology and

Science at the University of PennsylvaniaPreviously taught at:

Stony Brook University, CalTech, and PrincetonServed as a leader as:

Academic Administrator- Director of Women’s Studies, Chair of the Honors College at Stony Brook, and Department Chair at the University of Pennsylvania

Active as a consultant to documentary filmmakers, museum exhibit creators, and foundations with interests in science, technology, and medicine.

A Social History of American Technology Ruth Schwartz Cowan

The book focuses on American history and is divided into three major sections.In the Beginning

As the population increased, this led to changes in the natural environment.

“Survival skills adapting skills from the natives adapt old technology to fit new conditions” (p. 26)

Industrialization & Technological Systems Vehicles and roads, canals, railroads connected the East

and West coast Machines began to replace workers People were dependent on each other America went from the weakest to the strongest

economy (1780-1820)

A Social History of American Technology Ruth Schwartz Cowan

Twentieth-Century Technologies Many technology growths were related to the

automobile and aviation industry Improvements with technology came from desire for

“better” and/or to meet military needs Space travel provided many of our consumer

gadgets: solar energy cells, radios, computers, TV’s, etc.

Biomedical advancements led to social and ethical outcomes

Wireless telegraphy led to the electronic superhighway

There is no single control, technology has an open market with international efforts

More Work for Mother: The Ironies of Household Technology from the Open Hearth to the MicrowaveRuth Schwartz CowanWeb Example

Cowan discuss implications technology played on women in the workforce and at home.Appliances made housework easierSome theories suggest that appliances forced woman

into the workforceCowan states that women had entered the workforce

before modern household technologies were widely usedHousewives who entered the workforce were actually

those who could not afford these amenities; therefore technology is not a cause of women entering the workforce but an incentive

Cowan states that lives were shaped by the technologies that were introduced and we have now become accustomed to these luxuries

Summary“Every technological change has profound social & ethical consequences.” (Cowan, 1997, p. 326)

ResourcesCowan, R. S. (1997). A social history of American technology. New York: Oxford University Press. Ruth Schwartz Cowan (2013). Retrieved from http://ruthschwartzcowan.comRuth Schwartz Cowan: More work for mother. Retrieved from http://www.umsl.edu/~keelr/280/cowan.html