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remain in storage. The period of time we are asked to imagine extends beyond the
capacity of our imagination.
However, we can recognize unimaginable and invisible things indirectly by
using abstract notions. For example, we calculate “force” when we design the
mechanism of a machine. However, the force of classical mechanics cannot be
directly observed. It is calculated from the displacement or acceleration of an
object. It can be said that force is an abstract notion created by humans that is
beneficial for understanding physical phenomena. In addition, “the future” is an
abstract notion created by humans through language. We can never draw an exact
picture of the future. We can imagine what things might be like in the future, but it
is impossible to visualize a precise notion of the future itself. We think this kind of
highly abstract notion can be represented in language. The above-mentioned dis-
cussion suggests a possibility to recognize the notion of a 10,000- or 100,000-year
period by using language.
Yet, some invisible dangers of highly advanced science and technology are used
naturally by society. For example, Induction Heat (IH) cookers or microwave ovens
are used daily even though these products may cause accidents if they are used
incorrectly. These products are not solely considered acceptable by society because
of their recognitive interpretation or their cultural acceptance. Rather, they became
acceptable because of the amount of experiential usage that accumulated after
rational development based on scientific and technological knowledge was
performed to ensure their safety.
1.5 The Design of Technology
Based on the discussions presented above, the author proposes the concept of the
Design of Technology. The Design of Technology extends its view on the object of
design from the products themselves to include the scope that encompasses both
highly advanced science and technology and society. Thus, the role of design is to
create a bridge that connects highly advanced science and technology and society
through the creation of products. Further, the Design of Technology infiltrates the
culture of society and it requires the organization of a social system that can cope
with the negative aspects of science and technology and the new mechanisms to
recognize unimaginable and invisible things indirectly (see Fig. 1.6 ). Recently,
designers have limited their perspectives during the product actualization process
by relying primarily on their knowledge of systems engineering or plastic methods.
To realize the Design of Technology, designers or scientists engaged in product
design or research related to highly advanced science and technology must expand
their views. Here, the author does not insist that these professionals become artists
or sociologists. Rather, the author believes it is important to focus on “meaning”
rather than “procedure.” In an engineering design school, students are trained to
learn the procedures to calculate stress, displacement, calorie, flux, and so forth.
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