Sociotechnical assistance ensembles. Negotiations of needs and acceptance of support technologies

Abstract

Questions of needs and acceptance of support technologies are negotiated in sociotechnical assistance ensembles. Sociotechnical assistance ensembles are discussed as analytical tool, which overcomes both the dichotomy of social issues and technology as well as the distinction of technology development and use. In this way, it is possible to take all relevant heterogeneous actors (humans as well as technologies) into account and explore their relationships during technization procedures. The development of support technologies is at best a participatory, multidisciplinary, transformative, and ecological process.