Is Technology Predictable?

Summary for Chapter Three and Four
Chapter three starts with a new question: Is technology predictable? First, you must know what they are trying to predicate. This is where Nye begins to describe the differences between inventions and innovations which are differing terms it seems. Basically, innovations are improvements of the inventions. After this, he describes the different people who use different types of prognostication to foresee the future of inventions and innovations. The type of prognostication they use varies on what they are wanting to determine. The three types of prognostication are prediction, forecasting, and projections. However, Nye focuses on prediction and forecasting in this chapter. He begins to give examples of when
Nye begins this chapter with examples of where technology influenced history with a new term called technological momentum. He explains how technology gains traction in a society due to its culture and that technology can cause soft determinism once gained momentum. After these examples, he begins to explain the two different ways technology historians discuss technological advances. These two types of historians are contextualists and internalists. He gives examples of both types and leads you to understand that Internalists focus on the point of view of the inventor during the process of inventing the invention or innovation. While contextualists focus on the impact of the innovation or innovation on the world during its use. This leads you to conclude that both types are needed and have many positives and negatives with their interpretation of
Technological determinism suggests that technology drives the development of society and culture. While technological momentum suggests this, but only once the technology has been accepted and fitted by society. Also, it is fair to mention that it is a softer kind of determinism that technological momentum suggests. An example of technological momentum would be alternative energy and biofuels in Denmark. It was collaboratively made and fitted into society politically and socially. However, it now equates to 43% of energy and has been publicly stated to be self-sufficient by 2050. It is now dominating the utility business in Denmark and is slowly taking over its competition. We are even starting to see alternative energy gaining momentum in America due to how society in America is changing into conversation and