ABSTRACT
The Anatomy of Linearity Most studies of science and technology in modern societies are production-centered. They focus on the production of facts and artifacts in institutions of innovation and scientific inquiry. Still, when on occasion one follows specific forms of knowledge or artifacts that are on their way into society, the perspective remains production-centered because the topic of inquiry has been defined in laboratory terms. Even within the field of the “public understanding of science,” such bias seems very common (see, for example, Wynne, 1995). In this chapter we argue the need for a user-centered focus and explore the potential of such a shift by discussing three empirical cases based on theoretical and methodological developments in technology studies.
