STS.001 Quiz 2
"interpretive flexibility" (be prepared to provide an example)
"Technological artifacts are culturally constructed and interpreted ... By this we mean not only that there is flexibility in how people think of or interpret artifacts but also that there is flexibility in how artifacts are designed"
Roebling's caissons
A watertight retaining structure used, for example, to work on the foundations of a bridge pier. Use on the Brooklyn Bridge, and got deep enough, such that Roebling got the bends/ Roebling disease.
"Watson, I need you"
Alexander Graham Bell's telephone invention in 1876. It would be the basis of a social revolution in communication that allowed the formation of a whole new technological system.
Joseph Harrison's 4-4-0
American made locomotive that became the iconic sign of the American Railroad system. It was lighter and stronger than the British counterparts. It was designed in Massachussests.
"Time/Motion Studies"
Approach used by Scientific Managers to improve the efficiency in production of products at the worker level. By studying how fast the worker is able to carry out its work the scientific manager can create a better plan for speed up production. This often manifested itself in the form of quotas.
William Barton Rogers and the "New Education"
Barton Roger's vision of an engineering school where theory and practical work went hand in hand to make engineering a profession like law or medicine
Washington Roebling's engineering "masterpiece"
Brooklyn Bridge
A Gothic monument completed in 1883, "this was the work not only of a great engineer, but also a great artist" (Lewis Mumford)
Brooklyn Bridge completed in 1883, this was a remarkable achievement in bridge construction. The tallest structure in New York at the time. The bridge was a sign of the engineers coming of age as a profession, with roeblings work deemed by many a work of art, conceived in an age where many of the technologies that we call routine like the automoile and electricivty where non existant.
Carl Barth at Watertown Arsenal
Carl Barth was one of Taylor's partners and was tasked with the introduction of scientific management at Watertown Arsenal in massachuss, in 1909. Barth's supervisors pushed him to implement time studies than enraged the workers at the armory and would lead to the banning of time studies in goverment facilities. Perhaps not for the best.
"Mr. Smooth-it-Away"
Companion of the main character in The Celestial Railroad, he is constantly dimming any of the views that imply that the railroad is a trap and thus leads our character to believe that he is on route to the celestial city, when in fact he is never going to make it. He is a depiction of the devil himself.
"Cast Iron" Charles Sorensen and the origins of the assembly line
Ford Engineeer who helped with the development of the assembly line prior to its deployment in 1913. He contents that Ford ushered the development of the technology, but was not the innovator himself. The group of engineers where the ones that built and designed this work process and that Ford only rationalized his discovery after the fact. EXPLAIN how Assembly line changed evrything.
"You can buy it in any color, so long as it's black"
Ford Model T. The first truly mass produced assembly line, affordable car. Produced by the Ford Motor Company starting on Oct 1 1908. This model would be the first car for the masses that ford expected his own workers could afford. The car was light, reliable, cheap, easy to fix.
"The Rouge"
Ford automotive factory built in michigan next to the Rogue River, started on 1917 and finished in 1928. It is one of the largest integrated automotive factory in the world, and factories in the world period. It was in this plant that many american idols where created including the Ford Thunderbird, Mustang, F-150.
Foster Gunnison's Brand of Fordism
Foster Gunnison's work in the development of pre-fabricated homes, developed out of fords assembly line system. Allowed his company to make a house every 25 minutes. During the boom of the 50's gunnison managed to sell thousands of houses for the rapidly growing american suburbia.
George Eastman
Founder of Eastman Kodak in 1892 the photography equipment company. He provided a large portion of the funds used to build MIT's Cambridge campus at the turn of the century. His invention of the roll film would be the basis of the popularization of photography in the American Culture.
"In the past the man has been first. In the future the system must be first"
Frederick W. Taylor's notion of scientific management. In which timing experiments and motion experiments allowed the synthesis of faster production that reduced waste. In his methodology he recognized that solidering was a problem and scientific management was meant to increase productivity by means of more management, quotas, new processes, etc
Alfred P. Sloan and "Sloanism"
GM was the president of General Motors starting in 1923. During his term as presidnet of GM he made the company the largest corporation on Earth. He introduced many of the practices of the automotive industry today, the agreagate of which is referred to as sloanism. Sloanism focuses on the targeting of products to different makrets of individuals, this was unheard of in the model T times. He also introduced the yearly renewal of models, updated features for new models,many color choices, etc.
Whistler's father
George Washington Whistler, he was the one in charge of the creation of some of the earliest railroad systems in America, including the B&O Railroad and the Providence-Straughton Line. He would go on to Russia to establish that Nation's first railroad from Saint'Petersburg to Moscow. Early American Engineer example.
"The Gamin"
Girl from Charlie Chaplin's "Modern Times" Defined to be an orphaned child that lives in the street.
The Hudson River School
Group of landscape painters who were influenced by Romanticism. This art movement was focused on the painting the hudson valley, castkills, and other natural landscapes in the viscinity of new england. It would later expand.
"The Mussolini of Detroit"
Henry Ford, Was an early 20th century industrialist founder of the Ford Motor Company in 1903. His company would be responsible for the creation of the mass accessible automobile that would deeply re-structure american society and usher a new age in transportation.
General Montgomery Meigs: "second only to Grant"
His work as Quartermaster during the Civil War ensured that union troops where always well stocked and their supply lines always as efficient as possible, playing a significant role in the outcome of the war. He was also instrumental in the development of aRLINGTON national Cementery.
Morrill Land Grant Act, 1862
Land for states, sold then and a portion of the funds required to be used in education : i.e MIT's foundation.
"Fordism"
Mass Production Philosophy that focuses on the production of large quantities of uniform goods at minimum cost, which can be sold to a broad market comprising most of society. This notion implements the concept of interchangeable parts (armory practice), use of cheap unskilled labor, specially tooled machines, and scientific management to achieve maximum production efficiency. All INCORPORATED INTO THE ASSEMBLY LINE.
Eastman's "big gift"
Money given to MIT by magnate George Eastman, and which was used for the development of MIT's Cambridge campus. It was in the order of 7 million dollars and was given between 1912-1920. ALLOWED MIT TO BECOME WHAT IT IS TODAY
Thomas Cole, "River in the Catskills" (1843)
Painting that showed Catskill Mountains. Work is considered to be the earliest known American oil painting to depict a train.
Currier & Ives, "Across the Continent: Westward the Course of Empire Takes It's Way" (1868)
Painting, very dark. Train moving into the painting, towards the left, into darkness. Shows a frontier town in foreground, nature in background. Electric poles are also present, and Native Americans are seen on the right.
Taylor's "One Best Way"
Refers to the Taylor's believe that through his careful study of the work at hand the most efficient and wasteless way of production would be found. This involved time studies and motion studies that allowed him to devise a faster method.
The paradox of automobility, according to Cowan
Relates to the sorcerer's apprentice. In essence Americans created a technology that would revolutionize their society and bring an age of prosperity and cultural change, however in the process of creating their favorite technology they have encountered heavy downsides, namely high traffic, envieronmental issues, safety concerns, etc. Now their important and favorite technology may be their undoing and they want to eat their cake and have it. this is the paradox.
The first engineering school in America
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, located in Troy , New York in 1824. This school would lay the foundation for the development of engineering as a profession, which would be expanded upon with the cresation of MIT 40 years later and many other similar polytecnics. It was from this school that Washington Roebling would earn his degree in Civil Engineering.
"The Celestial Railroad"
Short Story adaptation by Hawthorne of a classic story portraying a man's journey to Celestial City. It is an allegory for the path that man must follow to avoid sin and reach heaven. In his version Hawthorne uses railroad imagery as a source of transportation but also as a depiction of all of the sins that humans carry with them as they take the easy road.
George Innes, "Lackawanna Valley" (1855)
Showed train moving to the left, with tree stumps all around, and a town with Industrial looking areas in the background. Kind of hazy, probably suggests darkness around Industrialism
The Civil War's "Grand National Armory"
Springfield Armory
The Duryea brothers' and Stevens Arms Company's pioneering product at Springfield, MA
The very first American Gasoline Car in 1893. This would be the origin of the American Car, which differered greatly from its European Cousins. The american car had a lot more power, was made out of metal instead of wood(check this), was made using interchangable parts.
Menlo Park, c. 1878-1882
Thomas Alva Edison's Laboratory.. During this time frame he demonstrated several revolutionary technologies. Including : the electric incandescent lightbulb and the electric distribution infrastructure that he demoed in Pearl Street in NYC.
Apollyon's engine
Train used to carry passengers in The Celestial Railroad. The demon Apollyon rides atop it and many references to the sounds it makes reminded me of the dangers of the technological wonder that is the railroad.
Five Dollar Day
Wages paid to a Ford Assembly line worker, this was double of what other manufacturers payed. Ford believed that his workers should be able to buy his cars and thus provided a higher wage. Considering the monotonous and repetitive nature of the work this helped ensure worker retention. This is a remarkable landmark in american labor as it began the work of raising standards of work.
"The Progress of the Age has Outstripped Human Belief" (Sen. Daniel Webster, 1847)
Webster refers to the modern technological systems that have changed America during this time. Namely the Railroad and the telegraph , also the steam engine. This is infact true the advent of these technologies completely changed the manner in which society communicated, transported, interacted, traded, etc. It would be the base of the mass production age, and would lay the foundation of the rapid technlogical growth of the late 18th century and 20th century.
"Soldiering"
Work practice that allows the worker to take back control of his own work schedule by means of slowing down production down to the slowest worker's pace.