Undergraduate Calendar 1998-1999

Director
N.R.Ball, DC 2724, ext. 4816

STV100s

STV 100 0.5
Society, Technology and Values: Introduction
This course examines the interaction of the technologies developed by a culture with the values and social organization of that culture. The course exposes students to various definitions of society, technology and values, and it presents alternative views about how the three interact. These views are then applied to a number of spheres of influence, including patterns of employment and the role of work; medicine and health; polity and economy; sustainable development and the environment.
Prereq: None


STV200s

STV 201A-Z 0.5
Society, Technology and Values: Special Topics
Study of the interaction of society, technology and values in a particular topic area under tutorial guidance by visiting or adjunct faculty.
Prereq: A previous STV course or consent of instructor


STV 202 0.5
Design and Society
The course uses design as a vehicle for examining technology and society interaction, particularly in how we design, create and choose technology. Design and Society has been created to introduce students to various methods to help them view design and technology from a technology-society perspective and includes topics such as various meanings of design and their implications, inherent limitations of design, why design is becoming increasingly important, cross-cultural design, design for sociability, learning to read design and understanding technology as a silent communicator, responding to change in the office and workplace, inherently safe design, designing better professionals, and identifying and dealing with factors contributing to failure. The overriding purpose of the course is to (a) develop an ability to see through the eyes of others and promote thinking about technology in terms of users as well as producers or creators, (b) develop critical thinking skills, and (c) present design as an activity involving societal and individual concerns rather than a purely technical matter. The course does not require advanced technical knowledge and is open to students from all faculties. This course is offered in the evening.
Prereq: None


STV300s

STV 302 0.5
Societal Perspectives on Information Technology
The course has been designed to provide a framework or set of intellectual tools to help students understand and evaluate technological change. These tools will be applied to the development of information technology, its interaction with society, and possible future scenarios. Selected topics include understanding digitization as culture, visions of the future and the perils of prediction, as well as issues related to application areas such as the home, manufacturing, office work, design and services, education, and law. The course will also consider some of the privacy and personal dignity issues associated with information technology.
Prereq: None


STV 303 0 .5
Cross-Cultural Change, Design and Technology
The course will examine the concept of cross-cultural change as more than a consequence of contact between ethnic and national groupings. Technological change and the mutual interaction between technology and culture produce new cross-cultural change and challenges. The purpose of the course is to help students understand and identify the complex interaction between technology and culture and its impact on design and the choice of technology. Students will be expected to use this knowledge as a decision-making tool.
Prereq: A previous STV course or consent of instructor


STV400s

STV 400 0.5
Society, Technology and Values: Senior Project
An independent, supervised research project related to the interaction of society, technology and values. Projects may take any format that demonstrates scholarly merit. Formats may include essays, impact studies, designs, computer software, or other media. Students are responsible for proposing suitable projects and are encouraged to seek faculty advice on plausible topics.
Prereq: STV 100, 202 or 204 and registration in the STV Option, normally at the fourth-year level


STV 401A-Z 0.5
Society, Technology and Values: Advanced Topics
Advanced study of the interaction of society, technology and values in a particular topic area under tutorial guidance by visiting or adjunct faculty.
Prereq: A previous STV course or consent of instructor


STV 404 0.5
Design and Technological Choice in Canada
The course begins by questioning whether or not there is anything distinctive about Canadian design and its context. Through the use of historical and contemporary cases, this course examines factors influencing design and technology choice in Canada and their outcomes. The future of design is also considered in terms of current trends, issues, challenges and opportunities.
Prereq: STV 202 or instructor's consent

The Undergraduate Calendar is published by the
Office of the Registrar, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1 Canada
Inquiries: infoucal@www.adm.uwaterloo.ca
Revised February 1998