Question

How do social forces shape technology

Answer 1

Social forces shape technology both in the form of deliberate social activism and also in unconscious ways. For example, in social activism, large demonstrations against oil pipelines can lead to more rapid development of alternatives to fossil fuels. Somewhat unconsciously, the clogging of cars in tight downtown areas in cities and decreasing parking space gave an impetus to develop new forms of rapid transit like subways and electric articulated buses.