1. Technology for people
From smartwatches and digital home assistants to robot vacuum cleaners and the chips in your phone; we can’t picture modern society without the technologies we use daily. But what makes new technologies worthwhile? And how do we develop tools that people actually want to use? While engineers design and develop new technologies, it’s social scientists who provide the human context for the design process. How do technologies relate to the way humans behave, interact, and feel – and how can we translate these human values into valuable tech?
This so-called human-centred approach to engineering only works in collaboration. Engineers bring in the math, problem-solving skills, and technical expertise; social scientists bring in their knowledge of human behaviour, communication and policy – for example. Together, they can develop technology that is not only effective, but also fulfilling, user-friendly, aesthetically pleasing and marketable. Think of your smartphone brand, for example. You hardly chose the brand just because it’s effective, right? 😉
2. Real-life applications
An M&M sorting machine, football-playing mini-robots, a volleyball cannon; engineers can design and build a whole bunch of cool things, well… just because they can, and it’s an exciting challenge. And while it can be very valuable and fun to see how far you can take your technical expertise as an engineer, there’s more to real-life applications of technology than just technical requirements and industry standards. For people to start using your technology, it not only has to work; it has to fill a need, fit the context, and solve real-life challenges, often involving complex situations.
That’s where, as an engineer, you need to understand the societal context for which you’re designing a technical solution. Enter social scientists! Whether it is understanding the complex governmental policies that surround certain technologies (think of AI, for example), or developing instructional material to help people actually use complex tools; only when taking the human perspective into account, you’ll be able to take your creations out of the lab or workshop.
3. Unforeseen consequences
ChatGPT giving harmful advice to people looking for mental health support. Social media platforms, like Instagram, negatively influencing self-worth and body image. The question of responsibility and accountability when technologies like autonomous cars fail. While technology has brought and continues to bring great benefits to modern society, it sometimes also comes with unforeseen, negative consequences.
As the possibilities of technology seem endless, it can be difficult to accurately predict how new tools and technologies may impact our lives. Social scientists, in this case, can help. Understanding the context in which people use technologies, they are well-equipped to analyse not only what technology can do on a practical and functional level, but also on an emotional, political, business, and/or societal level. After all, innovation isn’t just about what’s technically possible; it’s also about what’s ethically right for everyone.
So… How does this work in practice?
Okay, so, to solve complex societal issues, engineering and social sciences are both essential. But what does this multidisciplinary approach mean for your studies? Do you have to be very technical to study social sciences at a technical university, for example? Or do you need to become an expert in psychology as an engineer? The short answer is: no.
What you can expect in your studies at the University of Twente is collaboration, though. Don’t be surprised when all of a sudden, you’ll find a student Technical Computer Science in a Communication Science course, for example. Or think of a shared project between Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Design Engineering and Industrial Engineering Management. Through elective courses at other study programmes and shared project work with other academic disciplines, you will put your expert knowledge into practice, collaborating with students with a very different skillset. A great preparation for your future career, and above all: a lot of fun.
