The Shock of the Old

From economists to ecologists, from antiquarians to historians, people have had different views about the material world around us and how it has changed. Yet too often the agenda for discussing the past, present and future of technology is set by the promoters of new technologies.

When we are told about technology from on high we are made to think about novelty and the future. For many decades now the term ‘technology’ has been closely linked with invention (the creation of a new idea) and innovation (the first use of a new idea).

By thinking about the history of technology-in-use a radically different picture of technology, and indeed of invention and innovation, becomes possible.

Edgerton, David. The Shock of the Old : Technology and Global History Since 1900, Oxford University Press, Incorporated, 2007. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/cornell/detail.action?docID=5746865.

Created from cornell on 2026-02-10 19:57:17.

Focuses on the moment of widespread use instead of the moment of invention.

Old technologies often coexist with and outlast new ones.

Importance of mundane technologies.