A few years ago, Thomas S. Mullaney and others published a book entitled Your Computer Is on Fire. The title was intended as a manifesto that reinforced a critical view of digitization processes and made people aware of and vigilant against the utopian promises of technology. Undoubtedly, the history of digitization is no longer one that tells the story of artifacts and influential computer scientists or paints a picture of inevitable digitization processes.
Thus, the historiography of technology takes a critically reflective approach to digitization. Our research aligns with this perspective. We focus on the actors who promote digitization, including potential users who support computer use, such as teachers in schools (see Sven Schibgilla's project). Users are also examined in a research project on the implementation of SAP, with an emphasis on their emotional responses to the software. Kevin Liggieri aims to reveal the dominant ideas and scientific processes that have shaped the concept of the “learning subject” in the digital age. Jeannine Honig studies the development of a “new learning subject” in virtual environments. These projects demonstrate that digitization processes are neither linear nor teleological.
Additionally, we concentrate on resistance, obstacles, malfunctions, and errors. Denis Ljuljanović investigates the history of the digital factory through the perspective of malfunction, and Martina Heßler examines cultures of errors in digital reality.
Overview of the projects:
Martina Heßler, Geschichten von digitalen Fehlern und Nichtfunktionieren Mehr erfahren
Jeannine Honig, Lernen in technischen Umwelten. Virtual Reality und der Wandel von „Lernumwelten“ 1960-2014 Mehr erfahren
Kevin Liggieri, Ko-Konstruktionen von Lernen und Technik Mehr erfahren
Denis Ljuljanović: Kulturen des Nichtfunktionierens: Die Historie der digitalen Fabrik in Deutschland, Italien und Frankreich Mehr erfahren
Sven Schibgilla Digitalisierung gestalten. Akteure, Praktiken und Räume der schulischen Computernutzung in der Bundesrepublik (1960-2000) Mehr erfahren
Heidi Schweickert, Kontinuität und Wandel von Technikemotionen bei der Einführung von Anwendungssoftware in Unternehmen am Beispiel von SAP (1972 bis zur Gegenwart) Mehr erfahren