Publications of Jaakko Suominen, English Abstracts
Our relationship with information and technology is contradictory. We believe that the growth of knowledge and an increasingly widespread use of technology will improve the quality of our life. At the same time we dread of being left "out of the know" and at the mercy of technology. This contradictory attitude becomes most pronounced whenever a new technological innovation, such as a steam power, railroads, cars, electricity and television makes its breakthrough. Today's technological nightmares and daydreams are linked with information technology, particulary information networks. The evolution of the fears and hopes associated with information technology has a history of its own, connected with open and closed conceptions of the space of information technology.
Finnish article: "Uhka bittiavaruudesta. Tietokonepelkojen kulttuurihistoriaa." Kulttuurintutkimus 14(1997) : 4.
The research of the history of information technology was started in the 1970's. Today, the past of computing is the subject of interest of not only computer professionals but also journalists, historians and social scientists. The article here presents three possible approaches to the history of computing. The studies based on the device and inventor centred perspective emphasize the internalist and determinist nature of the development of technology. The counter-cultural approach sees the PC-technology and its developers as factors critisizing the society exercising centralized control upon its citizens. The representatives of the New History are probably the most willing to recognize the diversity, complexity and interaction of technology in all fields of life. To be able to evaluate the earlier research and to generate own results, the worker of the history of computing has to know the different levels and methods of technology and technological research, and not to commit him- or herself to one single perspective.
Finnish article: "Näkökulmia tietotekniikan historiaan." Tekniikan Waiheita 17(1999) : 3.
A Technological déjà-vu?
The problem of Historical Parallels in the Analysis of Technohype
In the current discussion about the Information Society (or even "the Knowledge Society"), it is typical to emphasize ruptures, revolutions and inevitability. The main thing is also the strong orientation towards the future. Usually, then, the technological past is forgotten or doomed as series of less valuable happenings and techniques leading to the present. The attitude is common amongst company leaders, politicians and other people promoting the new information technology. An another way to approach the past is to seek parallels. However, the technological parallels - used by media researcher and others - are not always based on "the deeper understanding of history". Just well the aim can be to show naturalness of the present (and future) technological situation. It is possible to use history as a tool of analysing and explaining the current technohype, but only if the explorer sees the whole context of the past, as well as her/his own.
Finnish article: "Teknologinen déjà-vu? Historiallisten rinnastusten ongelma teknokohun käsittelyssä." Tiedotustutkimus 22(1999) : 4.
The Annual Conference of the Finnish Sociological Society, The Westermarck Society,
was held in Turku in March 2000. The main theme of the conference was The
Sociologists in the Net. Technology, Structural Change and Sociological Theory.
The article here analyses professor John Law's lecture, Networks, Relations, Cyborgs:
On the Social Study of Technology.
Finnish article: Sampsa Hyysalo & Jaakko Suominen:
"Teknologian tutkimuksen olemusta pohtimassa. John Law Turun
valtakunnallisilla Sosiologipäivillä."
Tekniikan Waiheita 18(2000): 2, 24-30.
Forty years ago, a Wegematic 1000 computer, acquired as a donation from Sweden, was
taken in use in Turku. It became a part of the Turku Computing Center, which aimed at
combining scientific, educational and commercial aspects in its activity. Together
with Turku University and Åbo Akademi (the Swedish university in Turku), several
local business enterprises, were involved. The commercial aspect in the activity of the
Computing Center was not entirely fulfilled but in the scientific and educational
aspects the Computing Center succeded in its task.
Finnish article: Jaakko Suominen - Petri Paju - Aimo Törn:
"Varsinaissuomalainen linja Suomen tietoteknistymisen alkuvaiheissa
1959-1964. Turun Laskukeskus ja Wegematic 1000 tietojenkäsittelykone."
Tekniikan Waiheita 18(2000): 3, 24-46.