Technology has been defined as the application of scientific knowledge to the practical aims of human life. More often than not we think of this as the application of knowledge from sciences such as physics, chemistry or biology to provide new ‘things’ which improve life. However, perhaps this is too narrow a perspective, which doesn’t pay enough attention to what might be called social technologies that allow us to interact. For example, in his book ‘Money – A story of humanity’ David McWilliams frames money as just such a technology that has played a crucial role in shaping human development.
McWilliams contends that money is arguable the defining technology of humans over the last five thousand years as we moved from being a pyrophyte species shaped by fire, to a plutophyte species that has adapted to and been adapted by money. Unlike many of the scientific technologies money is ephemeral (particularly in its more modern forms), yet it is critical to the way we live our lives. When it does its job properly it is a means of exchange, a unit of account and a store of value. Amongst other things it facilitates trade and allows us to imagine, save for and invest in the future.
Social technologies might be defined as things that help humans work together more efficiently and effectively. The most fundamental of these would probably be language, which allows for greater cooperation and the sharing of knowledge. Others would include:
- writing, which enables the recording and sharing of knowledge (McWilliams argues that the earliest forms of writing may well have been the recording of credit records)
- organisational arrangements – such as companies, which allow the organisation of work between individuals and teams and a reduction in transactions costs
- markets, which allow exchange of goods and services and facilitate the division of labour
- property systems, which determine how limited physical resources are owned and managed
- legal systems, which set parameters within which contracts can be made and enforced
- insurance and social security, which spread and share risks
- social norms and conventions, which help regulate the behaviour of individuals in society
- institutions, which facility interactions between companies and individuals and facilitate the development of trust and reduce transitions costs
- political systems, which determine how decisions are made and implemented, not least in setting the framework in which other social technologies operate
There is an interesting relationship between the geography over which political systems operate and the geographical reach of other social and scientific technologies. Traditionally the frameworks for most technologies have been determined at a national or regional level, however increasingly, to be effective, these frameworks need to be multi-national, not least in the financial sphere where such things as the movement of capital can influence and constrain the actions of nation states.
As with science based technology social technologies are always evolving and often the two go hand in hand as scientific discoveries open up possibilities that society than has to grapple with to make the most of (such as with AI at the moment). McWilliams cites an example of such co-development in Africa where mobile phone credit is used as a form of money where banking systems are not well developed.
Innovation in the development of social technologies to increase productivity and improve outcomes can be as important as in the scientific technologies. The scope for innovation in social technologies may be higher given there are less physical constraints than for science based technology. Innovation in social technologies is in many respects only constrained by our imagination. The history of the development of money is a good example of how innovation in a social technology can be a facilitator of innovation elsewhere.
Mediation itself can be seen as a social technology. At its core it is a process which facilitates cooperation between participants to solve problems, build relationships, reduce costs and improve productivity. By deepening understanding and allowing scope for imaginatively exploring possibilities before decisions are taken it helps generate more effective outcomes and improves efficiency compared to more formal processes. Its flexibility as a process also allows room for innovation and experimentation – not least in the way in which new science based technologies such as AI might potentially enhance the mediation process.
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