Taming the Golem - an Experiment in Participatory and Constructive Technology Assessment

Abstract

This article examines the possibilities and limitations of constructive technology assessment in the light of a CTA-type experiment conducted in Finland on sustainable alternatives for online grocery shopping. The starting point of the analysis is the impasse created by the lack of dialogue between technology proponents and technology opponents. Constructive technology assessment is investigated here as a forum for constructive exchange and co-operation between seemingly antagonistic perspectives on technology. Thus, although the experiment did not provide visible practical outcomes in technology development or market evolution, it was successful in creating an atmosphere of dialogue and creativity that helped technology proponents and opponents to learn from each other. The article concludes that adopting a ‘constructive’ approach in the sense of making stakeholders work together on envisioning better alternatives appears to be useful in creating new discursive spaces, even when it does not lead to real-world outcomes. *Key words*: technology, assessment, participation