Theoretical Review

Technology is the new discoveries were found by a man who became a big part in people's lives,
such as electronic equipment, for example a communication tool HT and Rig, or etc. In fact,
technology is everything that man was created to be an extension or an extension in humans in
performing activity or simplify its business, both in terms of culture, organizational aspects, as
well as the technical aspects of emerging technology for growing human needs. Based on the
theory of Technological determinism, the technology determines the development of human
culture and social life. However, this theory is refuted by the Social Construction of Technology
theory that assumes that people in supporting the development of cultural and social life create
technology.
Starting from a constructivist paradigm emerges SCOT theory (Social Construction of
Technology). In the constructivist paradigm mentions that reality is formed through a social
construction. The Social Construction of Reality: A Treatise in the Sociological of Knowledge
(1966) Berger and Luckman, in the book illustrates that social processes is through action and
interaction. Someone creates a continuous reality experienced together and owned subjectively
and this is what ultimately led to SCOT is that technology is the result of social construction of
human life. SCOT theory can refute and assume that the theory of determinism Technology is
misleading. According to the view SCOT That man is the creator of the technology that has
ultimate control, and not the technology that controls human (Nye, 1 997),
In everyday example of theory SCOT we can see is the development of transportation
technology, originally person traveling on foot, walk way is in development is seen slower then
the switch by way of riding a horse faster and continue to grow and showing bike on its
development is seen very burdensome power of man then comes the motorcycles that are no
longer using manpower but it uses the power of the engine, the motor of which is still modest
evolved into a highly sophisticated big cc that produces a force that very large, and appeared also
a car that simple until a car very sophisticated, then people want faster today to travel a great
distance even human armpits need a long time to aircraft technology and even human being
creates space transportation technology that is capable of carrying humans to land on the moon.
From the example above, the SCOT in line with what was said by (Williams, 1974) that the

process of technological development is done deliberately to follow human needs and to realize
the goal of man ".
SCOT theory according Pinc & Bijker (1993) has formed the conceptual framework of four
interrelated components. The first concept is the interpretative flexibility, relevant social group,
Closure and stabilization and the wider context that can be explained as follows:
a) Components Flexibility interpretive (Interpretative flexibelity)
This concept is an empirical program of relativism taken in the social sciences and science.
Where explained that the design of technology is part of the open so that it can be different
results according to each group and humans. Pinch and Bijker: Interpretative Flexibility stages
where each group's role in the social construction has an idea about the idea that problems should
be solved by the new artifacts and therefore, requires the help of special technology design,
especially the components and operational principles which may not be liked by others. In a
process called stabilization, a social group to win than others, so the design of the group is
exactly what is used and the other forgotten or also two or more groups to negotiate a
compromise.
b) The components relevant to social groups (relevant social group)
The relevant group to make all social groups, sharing the same section, the meanings attached to
these artefacts. What I understand in terms of relevance is when a certain group translate /
interpret different between the groups with other groups, but the artifacts / objects of the same.
c) The components cover / end and stabilization (Closure and stabilization)
A design creation between different groups experienced a debate as to differences of
interpretation lead to conflicting portrayals of an artifact. The debate can be ended if the design
of artifacts / objects no longer pose a problem to any group, this can happen if a few serve
targeted groups to reach an agreement and do not modify any more so that artifacts technology
reached its final form stable. Pinch and Bijker proves that innovation technologies not the result
of a mythical person who introduced the "technology" new and releasing them into the
community, causing series of the expected impact or not. But technological innovation is a
complex process of construction joint in which technology and society, to the point where they
can even be understood in isolation from each other, negotiate the meaning of artifacts of new

technologies, changing technologies through the opposition, and build a framework to think,
practice and social action and technology.
d) The components which involve the broader context (wider context)
I am understand is the technology would seem to be science related to artifacts technology to the
social, political, and so forth. Obviously, the situation of social, cultural and political social
groups establish norms and values, which in turn affects the meaning given to an artifact. Since
we have shown how different meanings can change the different developmental pathways. SCOT
models seem to offer the operational relationship between the wider environment and the actual
content of the technology.
There is a relationship between theory SCOT with aspects of human life (social, political,
economic, and cultural) behind the development of the technology itself, so Klein and Kleinman
(2002 in broader context. The background of individuals in a social group will play an important
role against technological developments up to the end result. Examples such as the selection of
mobile phones are influenced by economic someone who initially chose the phone just to satisfy
his need to communicate, then because he was able to buy mobile phones with specifications
more and needs to grow, eventually he chose mobile phone (handphone) more considering the
specs over the phone before.
SCOT theory is useful for human to achieve goals and meet their needs. Moreover, using of
technology requires readiness and capability of human beings in the use of technology as well as
possible but do not let it just depends on the technology or enslaved human technology. Man
must control and must be wise in the use of technology, that new technologies emerging and
found humans will actually be useful in facilitating human effort and activism.
The theory of social construction of technology departing from the constructivist paradigm
which says that the actual reality are built or created through social construction. This paradigm
gave birth to the theory of social construction which, according to Berger & Luckmann (1996)
theory of social construction is defined as a reality that is created through the interaction between
individuals or groups that passed through a social process experienced subjectively. The theory
of social constructions that generate SCOT or theory of social construction of technology. The
theory of social construction of technology weapons is basically a theoretical perspective as
opposed to the theory of technological determinism.

As we know, technological determinism is the theory that technology influence on society

(Bijker, 1995). While the theory of social construction of technology perspective according to
Baym (2010) focuses on how emerging technologies and evolving through social processes.
SCOT (Social Construction of Technology) to see the theory of technological determinism as an
explanation is inadequate and can even be misleading. This is because the humans that act as
agents of change and in control and not robots or machines (Nye, 1997: 180). In addition, the
development of technology here is not seen as a process that is autonomous, but rather a
deliberate process occurs matches or follow human needs and goals. Therefore, the technology
itself has a significant role in meeting the needs - the need for humans (Williams, 1974).
Examples of application of the theory of social construction of technology that is most easily
found in the development of technologies that are influenced by social processes is the invention
of instant messaging technology, or better known as the chat activity. Instant messaging is a
result of human thought and also the result of a social construction that depart from the human
need to communicate with a practical, easy, and fast, so that the human need for information
technology more practical that affect technology letters - correspondence developed into
information technology instant messaging.
The theory of social construction of technology has several major concepts. The first is the
interpretative flexibility. Interpretative flexibility means that the use and exploitation of
technologies by humans according to the theory of social construction of technology is different different in accordance with the background of the economic, political, social, especially cultural
background. This causes a same technology can have meaning or a different meaning for each
person and group different (Bijker, et al., 1993). For example, is as we see in our own country,
Indonesia, the phone not only serves as a communication tool or tools that have utility as a
technology but also as a symbol of their position or symbol of one's status in society, in which
the brand or brands of mobile specific considered to have a level higher or demonstrate a higher
social status than the brand or another brand. While in other countries, particularly Europe, the
phone is only used as a communication tool and is intended to find and exchange information.
The second main concept is relevant social groups.
The second concept is similar to the first main concept. According to Janet Fulk (1993), the
adoption of technology by individuals affected also by the social construction of peer group or
friends of the group. An example is a laptop that rapidly adopted by young people and students to

ease the task. But in some circles as office workers, they still use the computer in their office
work and have different views on the laptop.
As with the theory - the theory that matter, the theory of social construction of technology is
not spared from criticism. One of the criticisms presented by Winner (1993) is that the theory of
social construction of technology are not talking about the impact provided by the technology
after human use and do not explain the result of the development of these technologies. Another
criticism is the theory of social construction of technology emphasizes the importance of the
group's influence on the social construction of individuals that also affect how a person utilizing
the technology. However, this theory does not take into account people - people who do not have
a voice in the group, but also feeling the effects.
Next is criticism about things - other things outside the group that influence technology
adoption, such as economic, political, social, and cultural. Winner said that the theory is taking or
see the effect - the effect is not too deep or not too much detail, but when you see aspects - these
aspects in more depth it will be the discovery of other influences on the social construction of the
technology. Last criticism delivered by Winner is he sees that this theory seemed too subjective
and does not pay attention to alternative perspectives other technologies.
The problem now is how humans as a party to influence the development of technology and
adopt the technology can use wisely in order to avoid distortion of the role as stated in the theory
of technological determinism. Humans in control should also be able to think of what the impact
of the use of the technology used and what is the impact of technological development to be
more careful - careful and wise in doing all his actions, especially in the use, adopt and use
technology.