Beyond ‘birth’ studies: Linking up multilayered biographies

• In Event: Robustness In STS Research Designs And Methods – Making A Difference In Uncertain Worlds? (part 1)

Abstract

STS scholars seem to be particularly well-equipped to study the emergence of a new technology by reconstructing its ‘birth’ through looking at the various social and technological factors involved in its formation. However, while especially STS scholars influenced by the field of Information Systems may have a tendency to leap from studying the emergence of one new technology to studying the emergence of an even newer and presumptively more interesting technology, important analytical insights can be generated by establishing a theoretical language more apt to examine how already existing technologies may begin to serve a new purpose. Despite acknowledging ‘birth’ to remain an important ‘biographical moment’, this paper claims that (over)emphasising the moment of ‘birth’ as a ‘snapshot’ may potentially lead to analytically ignoring some of the multiple ‘layers’ of a technology’s biography. To overcome this shortcoming, it is proposed to extend the temporal scope of the BOAP template by throwing light at potentially unstudied, yet critical biographical moments that may occur prior (‘pre-natal’) or after (‘decline’ or ‘dying’ phase) a technology is exposed to public life. In this context, additional analytical value is suggested in revisiting and expanding concepts from various academic disciplines, such as ‘repurposing’, ‘ruination’, ‘pivot’, ‘exaptation’, ‘palimpsest’ and ‘function creep’ to create a taxonomy that enables STS researchers to better account for the plurality and multi-layeredness of a technology’s biography. This step would not only help to string together studies from different vantage points but also contribute to more equality in studying the biographies of technologies.

Author

• Alex Christian, University of Edinburgh Business School