Technological Genre

Technology Genré is an Australian expression based on the notion that all technologies present a basic repeatable pattern of essential elements known as the elements of technacy, and that similar configurations of elements that create similar patterns represent the Technological Genre.

The proposition holds that if all technologies display no less than the technacy elements in a specific relationship, then each technology both known and newly developed in the future will also display the same basic minimum pattern of interacting elements.

All technologies tend to present more sophistication than these 4 elements, but no technology presents less than these elements. As such, these basic elements are common and fundamental to all technologies and so technology genré.

Technacy Elements

# Purpose and Context (all technologies are produced, maintained or used in an initial or intended context with at least an initial purpose in mind. Thus the applied context and purpose requires careful consideration in design, development and its life cycle)
# Agent (In this example, the human agent. Thus by definition, all human technological processes at some stage, are tied to individual, social and cultural influence)
# Tool (or tool systems whether abstract tools like algorithms or computer applications or physical tools like hammers or machines)
# Material (consumables, data, the thing being shaped, altered by the 'tool' via the knowledge or method of the agent).

Different Technology Genré

All technologies display 'at least' the above 4 elements in a system, as such we can understand genrés of technology by the substitutes in this system:

Eg Genré A: Textiles Technology

# Typical Purposes include apparel and non-apparel use of fabric to function in various set contexts
# Typical agent (human) elements include: knowledge or methods of sewing, stitching, pattern development of fabrics
# Typical tools include needles, pins, sewing machines of various caliber and specialties
# Typical materials include fabrics, weave, thread, fibre

Eg Genré B: Wood Craft Technology
#Typical Purposes include 3D physical forms (eg, furniture/sculpture, prototyping) in various set contexts
# Typical agent (human) elements include: knowledge or methods of joinery, carving, design and development of timber form
# Typical tools include power tools for timber, nails, screws, hammer, machines of various caliber and specialities
# Typical materials include timbers if various species

Eg Genré C: Information/Communication Technology
# Typical Purposes include data or information management, or design including creative designs.
# Typical agent (human) elements include: knowledge or methods of such processes as data base design and presentation, systems management, document management and dissemination over internet, image file enhancements.
# Typical tools include power data base tools, photo manipulation tools, web presentation, CAD and design tools.
# Typical materials include digital file types to be shaped by the above tools like: text and numerical data, images, video, vector files, and their sub groups like Txt, html, various image formats, RTF, PDF etc. Each requiring a blend of tool and method from both textile and information technologies.
Mixed Genré to explore Innovations

Eg Genré A+B: Textiles and Wood Craft Technology

# Typical Purposes include Comfortable Furniture in set contexts of living room
# Typical agent (human) elements include: knowledge or methods of sewing, stitching, pattern development of upholstery
# Typical tools include textiles and wood tools
# Typical materials include fabrics and wood

Eg Genré A+C: Textiles and Information/Communication Technology

# Typical Purposes include Fashion graphics in context of defined style or market
# Typical agent (human) elements include: knowledge or methods of sewing, stitching, and image and design presentations to client
# Typical tools include fashion software with digital image tools
# Typical materials include fashion fabric textures (digital) with image format files.

Innovation via mixing Genrés of Technology

Technological Genré is a way of communicating the differences between various technologies and offers a way for exploring and experimenting with mixed combinations of genrés to assist innovation processes.

ee also

*Technacy