Consumer influence on new technology — Real potential or false hopes?

The conditions for and limits of consumer influence on technology are examined against the background of different views on the interaction between society and technology. There are 4 theories of technology and consumer influence. First, the autonomous technology perspective holds that technology de...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of consumer policy 1986-09, Vol.9 (3), p.335-343
Main Author: Cronberg, Tarja
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Consumers
Influence
Public policy
Society
Technology
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Summary:The conditions for and limits of consumer influence on technology are examined against the background of different views on the interaction between society and technology. There are 4 theories of technology and consumer influence. First, the autonomous technology perspective holds that technology develops according to internal laws independent of society, and the consumer has no influence. With problem-solving technology, the 2nd theory, technology is a tool that adjusts to formulated needs externally, and the consumer has some influence. The 3rd theory, the materialistic view of technology, presupposes that the production mode must be changed to release the positive potentials of technology, and the consumer has no influence. Fourth, in democratic technology, the relationship between society and technology is mediated through political ideologies and existing power structures, and consumer influence is potentially great.
ISSN:0168-7034
1573-0700
DOI:10.1007/BF00380303