In this book, the phenomenon of technology will be approached and analysed from the perspective of natural ecology. And finally, it will address the question of how the autonomy of technology is shaped and what this could potentially mean for humans. This book will close by going into the question of …

This article proposes the use of agent-based simulation to analyze complex design trade-offs that involve value tensions. This is illustrated by a case study in the domain of train traffic control. In this case, agent-based simulation supported the involvement of stakeholders and increased understanding …

Technology is responsible for major systemic changes within the global financial sector. This sector has already developed into a comprehensive network of mutually connected people and computers. Algorithms play a crucial role within this network. An algorithm is in essence merely a set of instructions …

Technology is responsible for major systemic changes within the global financial sector in general and particularly in the trade in financial products. The global financial sector has already developed into a comprehensive network of mutually connected people and computers that are constantly evaluating …

A heated international debate is taking place about the innovation, development, and deployment of automated military technology, such as remotely-controlled aerial vehicles. Recently, the scope of the debate is extended to the moral concerns about (future) automated technology possibly able to make …

The third industrial revolution is often thought to be caused by the emergence of three-dimensional (3D) printing technology. There is an evolving digital ecosystem that in several ways parallels the early development of digital music formats for the consumer market. At the same time there are social …

The design of healthcare facilities is a complex and dynamic process, which involves many stakeholders each with their own set of needs. In the context of healthcare facilities, this complexity exists at the intersection of technology and society because the very design of these buildings forces us to …

Technology can assist older adults to remain living in the community. Within the realm of information and communication technologies, smart homes are drifting toward the concept of ambient assisted living (AAL). AAL-systems are more responsive to user needs and patterns of living, fostering physical …

The Fontys University of professional Education, department of Mechanical Engineering, has started development of a new curriculum during the year 2000-2001, Human Mechanical Engineering (HME). Next to immersion of our students in actual technology practices, we aim to include for our students new topics …

This article discusses the viability of a feminist constructivist approach of knowledge through the careful reading of the work of the feminist scholar and historian of science and technology, Donna Haraway. Haraway proposes an interpretation of objectivity in terms of "situated knowledges". Both the …