The Design of Technology: Bridging Highly Advanced Science and Technology with Society Through the Creation of Products - Principia Designae: Pre-Design, Design, and Post-Design - page 3

technology” refers to disciplines that rely on fundamental knowledge of natural
phenomena to realize product requirements or specifications. The term, “products,”
is used to describe equipment or plants (e.g., power stations or buildings), as well as
other items used by consumers (e.g., computers or cars). The term, “society,” is
used to describe the individuals who use those products.
Let us examine the concept, “a car.” Today, “a car” is a globally used product.
Many cars are designed and produced on a daily basis. However, many individuals
have been killed in car accidents. Why, then, do we use such a dangerous artifact?
We have not yet explicitly discussed or determined the degree to which dangers
related to the use of a car might be considered acceptable.
On the other hand, in March 2011, Japan experienced “a nuclear power station”
disaster. The nuclear power station had already been designed and produced.
However, the fundamental reasons why we create and use products that present
significant dangers have not yet been clarified. Thus, social feelings related to the
acceptance of these types of dangerous stations have not yet been developed.
What differences exist between “a car” and “a nuclear power station?”
We can discuss this issue by focusing on the gap that exists between conven-
tional science and technology and highly advanced science and technology. In this
context, the term, conventional science and technology, refers to traditional science
and technology applied to the production of products (e.g., dynamics, fluid dynam-
ics, thermodynamics, electrical engineering, chemical engineering, and so on).
Highly advanced science and technology is a term applied to science and technol-
ogy that has advanced over the past two or three decades (e.g., nuclear science,
genetic engineering, nanotechnology, ICT, and so on). The author will describe the
differences in scope covered by each design: (1) design that relates to conventional
science and technology, and (2) design that relates to highly advanced science and
technology. The concept of “a car” is employed to exemplify design that relates to
conventional science and technology. Here, focus is placed on the car's fundamen-
tal technology, even though some highly advanced science and technologies have
been implemented in “a car.” In this chapter, the author will demonstrate that design
in the near future must more accurately relate to a wider scope that encompasses
both highly advanced science and technology and society. Further, the author will
suggest that designers and researchers engaged in highly advanced science and
technology should adopt more open and accepting attitudes to related fields, such as
cultures, social systems, and so on. They must also consider all aspects from the
viewpoint of “meaning” rather than “procedure.”
1.2 Pre-design, Design, and Post-design
The conventional design process is comprised of the following stages: conceptual
design, embodiment design, and detailed design. The author believes a simple
examination of these three design stages cannot capture the essential nature of
the relationship between science and technology and society; this is because the