Engineering, Technology, & Culture

On Wednesday, 31 October 2007, Christian Sandvig of the Department of Speech Communications, UIUC, will speak in Room 2405, Siebel Center.

The Bad Neighborhoods of the Electromagnetic Spectrum: Combining Education and Culture in the Regulation of Wireless

Abstract:

Wireless communication technology is advancing by leaps and bounds, while electronic devices that communicate wirelessly are proliferating throughout the world. The regulation of the electromagnetic spectrum now stands at a crossroads, with policies and ideas that haven't changed for eighty years now called into question. Some of the engineering and regulation of wireless technology, however, has come to habitually consider this domain as the settled technical management of electromagnetic waves rather than the manifestation of the human needs, desires, and struggles that motivate communication. Using the case of wireless, this talk will consider the more general problem of thinking across the cultural boundaries of engineering, law, and social science expertise when making technology policy.

Printable PDF Flyer:
http://www.illigal.uiuc.edu/web/etsi/files/2007/10/engtech_sandvig.pdf

Printable PDF Flyer for the overall lecture series:
http://www.illigal.uiuc.edu/web/etsi/files/2007/08/etsi_807_copy-7.pdf

See also:
    New service-learning course: "Making the World Wireless" (previous)
    Sandvig and Shaw to speak about San Diego Wildfires and Community Infrastructure (next)