S i m p l e x i t yComprehending the relationship between societies

and technologies

A Historical Inquiry by Philip Mehler

Climbing the Ladder

Posing the Question:

“At what point in this process of technological

evolution do you think humans and technologies will

switch roles; might a transition occur where humans

become mediums for far more advanced

technologies?”

Walking the Plank

Proposed Inquiry: Understanding the nature of

the relationship between humans and tools.

Hypothesis: Humans have an innate affinity for

that which is simple

Revised Inquiry: Comprehending the nature of

the relationship between societies and

technologies

Findings: There exists a dynamic humane desire

for the most simplified forms of the most complex

objects

The Dive

Constructing a lens for peering into the dynamic:

Dualistic

Technics and Civilization by Lewis Mumford

Bird’s Eye View

The Pencil by Henry Petroski

Belly Up Perspective

Distinguishing Procedural from

Substantive

Procedural: refers to the intended function

Technology – the engineer’s or innovator’s

intended function for his or her technological

innovation

Substantive: refers to the actual, or relative,

function

Technology – the ways in which the society

actually incorporates and utilizes the innovation

Development vs. Transfer

“all engineering, past and present, has a

common feature to its fabric” – Henry Petroski

Development/ Engineering: Procedural

Evolutionary

Transfer/ Integration: Substantial

Revolutionary

A Priori

“Advances in technology depend on a wide variety

of agents at work… Very simply, technological

progress depends on myriad causes with none

holding sway over others.”

- Deandra Sahal

Never Neutral

Technological advancements are not isolated from

the social climate in which they are discovered, and

into which they are eventually integrated.

“Technology is never neutral” but rather functions as

“an echo of the larger society”, or, more simply, as a

product of its environment.

- Zerzan and Carnes

Layering, Scaling, and

DesignMumford – Authoritarian vs. Democratic Technics

The technics utilized for scaling and layering can

ultimately dictate societal design

Scaling – refers to the most basic processes of

societal proportioning

Layering – refers to the fundamental processes

of societal stratification

Simplexity

An innate spectrum exists between that which is

simple and that which is complex

Societies desire the most complex innovations

possible, but particularly in their simplest forms

Define: Maintaining a balance, within this

spectrum

Equilibrium is always in flux; the ebb and flow

Substantiating our humane affinity for simplexity

Innovation

Quantitative: Random

Innovative breakthroughs occur randomly and are

unpredictable; no evident pattern

Qualitative: Evolutionary

Innovative breakthroughs are the products of long

term processes of research and development

Ex. The Pencil

The Market

Market – view dualism objectively through pre-

established technics

Transfer of technique – maintaining consumer

familiarity with design

One influence amongst many but proves

fundamental and telling all the same

Simplicity in Design

Human dynamism: Simplexity

Law

Simplexity in the realm of legislation Procedural: the rules that govern the proceedings of the court

Substantive: law that deals with dynamics of legal relationships

Law in relation to innovationSimplexity is just as prevalent in legislation, provided that it is the simplest laws that prove to be most effective forms of jurisdiction in complex societies

InterplayCase study: ways in which technologies and innovation can influence societal structures and designs

Achieving Simplexity

So What?

Simplicity in design is a step in the right

direction but an unsuitable long-term

strategy…