Embracing Technology and the Challenges of Complexity
Advances in new digital platforms, innovative applications, and the convergence of computer, information, and communication technologies are transforming our everyday lives. ICTs have consequences for governance, community, work, information, knowledge, human communication, and well being, to name o...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Paderborn University: Media Systems and Media Organisation Research Group
2011-01-01
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| Series: | tripleC: Communication, Capitalism & Critique |
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| Online Access: | https://www.triple-c.at/index.php/tripleC/article/view/245 |
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| _version_ | 1849397604803149824 |
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| author | Alice Robbin |
| author_facet | Alice Robbin |
| author_sort | Alice Robbin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Advances in new digital platforms, innovative applications, and the convergence of computer, information, and communication technologies are transforming our everyday lives. ICTs have consequences for governance, community, work, information, knowledge, human communication, and well being, to name only a few. We live in a world where change is a constant, where interdependencies are multiple, heterogeneous, and increasingly fragile, and where uncertainty, ambiguity, incomplete information, and unanticipated consequences are the norm. The outcomes of our engagement with technology are complex and unpredictable. They defy simple conclusions because they are historical, temporal, situational, and embedded. Moreover, they are problematic and surprising: inconsistent, paradoxical, disorderly, contradictory, and contingent. In this talk I want to examine some of the empirical evidence about the complexity of our technological landscape and suggest ways to make sense of what is happening through theoretical frameworks drawn from different disciplinary traditions. Following Nobel Laureate in Economics Elinor Ostrom, our aim should be to “dissect and harness complexity rather than eliminate it” so that we can create responsive and resilient systems. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f5b85d7e879d410fb52ce2da5e6551ba |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1726-670X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2011-01-01 |
| publisher | Paderborn University: Media Systems and Media Organisation Research Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | tripleC: Communication, Capitalism & Critique |
| spelling | doaj-art-f5b85d7e879d410fb52ce2da5e6551ba2025-08-20T03:38:55ZengPaderborn University: Media Systems and Media Organisation Research GrouptripleC: Communication, Capitalism & Critique1726-670X2011-01-019110.31269/triplec.v9i1.245245Embracing Technology and the Challenges of ComplexityAlice RobbinAdvances in new digital platforms, innovative applications, and the convergence of computer, information, and communication technologies are transforming our everyday lives. ICTs have consequences for governance, community, work, information, knowledge, human communication, and well being, to name only a few. We live in a world where change is a constant, where interdependencies are multiple, heterogeneous, and increasingly fragile, and where uncertainty, ambiguity, incomplete information, and unanticipated consequences are the norm. The outcomes of our engagement with technology are complex and unpredictable. They defy simple conclusions because they are historical, temporal, situational, and embedded. Moreover, they are problematic and surprising: inconsistent, paradoxical, disorderly, contradictory, and contingent. In this talk I want to examine some of the empirical evidence about the complexity of our technological landscape and suggest ways to make sense of what is happening through theoretical frameworks drawn from different disciplinary traditions. Following Nobel Laureate in Economics Elinor Ostrom, our aim should be to “dissect and harness complexity rather than eliminate it” so that we can create responsive and resilient systems. https://www.triple-c.at/index.php/tripleC/article/view/245information and communication technologies (ICTs)social informaticstheorymethodologyempirical evidencecomplexity |
| spellingShingle | Alice Robbin Embracing Technology and the Challenges of Complexity tripleC: Communication, Capitalism & Critique information and communication technologies (ICTs) social informatics theory methodology empirical evidence complexity |
| title | Embracing Technology and the Challenges of Complexity |
| title_full | Embracing Technology and the Challenges of Complexity |
| title_fullStr | Embracing Technology and the Challenges of Complexity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Embracing Technology and the Challenges of Complexity |
| title_short | Embracing Technology and the Challenges of Complexity |
| title_sort | embracing technology and the challenges of complexity |
| topic | information and communication technologies (ICTs) social informatics theory methodology empirical evidence complexity |
| url | https://www.triple-c.at/index.php/tripleC/article/view/245 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alicerobbin embracingtechnologyandthechallengesofcomplexity |