An Engineer’s Perspective

In this chapter, we establish the boundaries of an engineering approach to technology, considering technology from an engineering perspective and stressing the importance of standardsStandards and other forms of autonomous representationsAutonomous representattions for defining technology. We explain autonomous representationsAutonomous representattions as descriptions of the technology that are independent of the actual tool or object or implement yet are at the core of technology as it is understood by engineers. Finally, we examine how the leading authorities of the technological society, the engineers, have carved out a distinctive role in contemporary society. This role or authoritative voice shapes many of our expectations in the technological and post-technological society.