The role of technology is rarely mentioned in political discussions about social inequality. Nevertheless, recent studies have revealed that technologies offer more capital-enhancing opportunities for those of higher socioeconomic status. Furthermore, when technologies become more complex, comparative advantages increase, enabling smaller groups of people to benefit. Following this reasoning, it is crucial to study the most recent phase of technological development: the complex Internet-of-Things (IoT). Many of the possibilities enabled by IoT that are emphasized in popular media seem techno-utopian promises that stress the autonomous power of the technology. So far, behavioral factors that are necessary for understanding the impact of the IoT have been ignored. We aim at understanduing more about the key driver for using the IoT: user skills and combine performance tests with socio-contxtual investigations of IoT use.
Contact: Alexander van Deursen
Funder: NWO (Vidi scheme)
