Chapter 4 Review Questions

Short Answer Questions

1. What is meant by the black box of design? How might this factor affect the work of someone trying to understand the design process of technology?

2. Define the concept of the creative class as proposed by Richard Florida. Discuss how the increase of individuals who fall under the creative class can impact cities such as Toronto.

3. According to Hughes, what are the three stages that characterize the design and development of technology?

4. Explain the concept of reverse salience using the example of the smartphone.

5. Briefly define the three different categories that Schumpeter divides the creative process into: invention, innovation, and imitation.

6. Briefly discuss the four major areas that impact the social milieu of software development.

7. Explain the concept of technological redlining and give an example to demonstrate its social significance.

Essay Questions

1. What are the three interrelated processes outlined by Castells and Hall (1994) that gave rise to technopoles? Why are technopoles significant in a discussion of the information society?

2. To what extent are algorithms neutral technologies that help us interact with our environment? Discuss the neutrality of algorithms by using search engines such as Google and their functionality as an example.