Summary
This book argues that technology, represented by the failed guided-transportation system for Paris, Aramis, requires advocates, even technology itself, to plead for its survival against abandonment by its creators and decision-makers. Through a fictional account narrated by various individuals—an engineer, his professor, company executives, elected officials, and a sociologist—alongside Aramis’s own voice, the book illustrates the complex relationships between humans and technological innovations. It examines the human desire for technological advancement alongside the vulnerability of these systems to be discarded.
The narrative centers on the story of Aramis, a project that faced abandonment, highlighting how technological systems possess their own agency and capacity for passionate defense. Readers gain insight into the multitude of perspectives involved in technological development and deployment, from the technical and managerial to the sociological, revealing the often-overlooked advocacy required for technology to succeed beyond its initial conception.
Key concepts
- Aramis — A fictional guided-transportation system intended for Paris, serving as the central case study.
- Technological Innovations — Inventions and advancements in technology that risk abandonment by their creators.
- Narrators — Multiple perspectives, including an engineer, his professor, company executives, elected officials, a sociologist, and the technology itself, telling the story.
- Abandonment of Technology — The act of creators or decision-makers ceasing support for or discarding technological projects.
From the book
Description: The story of Aramis—the guided-transportation system intended for Paris—is told in this fictional account by several parties: an engineer and his professor; company executives and elected officials; a sociologist; and Aramis itself, who delivers a passionate plea on behalf of technological innovations that risk being abandoned by their makers.
Snippet: The story of Aramis—the guided-transportation system intended for Paris—is told in this fictional account by several parties: an engineer and his professor; company executives and elected officials; a sociologist; and Aramis itself, who ...