The position fields of technology: a role-theoretical approach to socio-technical networks

Abstract

This article builds on the idea of actor-network theory to use role terminology for describing the heterogeneous associations that make up technological innovations. Referring to key concepts of sociological role theory it proposes a more elaborate role-theoretical approach to socio-technical networks. It is argued that technological innovations consist of fields of positions to be occupied by human actors or techno-logical artifacts. Network-building thus is viewed as a process of establishing sets of interrelated positions. Consequently, actors and objects are relevant only in their capacity as occupants of positions. The role-theoretical approach draws attention to the fact that the human and nonhuman components of a technological innovation may hold several positions within the socio-technical network and may play functional and social roles at the same time. The conceptual approach is illustrated with two examples from the history of the automobile: the chauffeur problem and the invention of the jaywalker.