Looking back at the 20th century, the history of the automobile seems to be primarily associated with the internal combustion engine. At the same time, however, it is a history of the batteries used in the car. Two batteries must be distinguished: The battery as a source to power the car and the car battery …
Today, I received this beautiful book titled “Automatizované řízení vozidel a autonomní doprava: Technické a humanitní perspektivy” (Automated driving and autonomous transport: technical and humanities perspectives). The cover is designed in neon green, framing an iconic image of automated driving from the 1960s. The background of the drawing is highlighted in neon orange. The cover …
Just coming back from a very inspiring conference about the culture and technology of batteries (Reichweitenangst – Batterien und Akkus als Medien des Digitalen Zeitalters), organized by Prof. Jan Müggenburg (Media studies) at Leuphana University in Germany. Media theorists, historians of technology and cultural scientists presented their different approaches to this fascinating topic. My own …
Conference on batteries at Leuphana University Lüneburg (2019) Read More »
I am very happy to announce the publication of an anthology edited by Marina Maestrutti and me, covering the relation between technology and the imaginary. It is the result of the conference L’Imaginaire et les Techniques that had been organized by us in Paris in late 2013. The contributions on the imaginary and technology presented …
New publication: Les Imaginaires et les techniques (2018) Read More »
The automotive industry had been in a phase of transformation for several years. We can put forward two hypotheses about the major technological changes: First, manual driving will be increasingly replaced by autonomous driving. Secondly, individual mobility is being transformed into collective mobility. What is new: these two trends are beginning to be transposed. The …
Each year, the history of technology students at the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne organize a “masterclass”. These conferences aim to develop a thematic reflection between students and confirmed researchers. This year our masterclass proposes to “think technology with Jacques Tati”. Its aim is to question the place of technology in the work of the …
Thinking technology with Jacques Tati – Masterclass Culture & Technology (2013) Read More »
(Kröger, Fabian, Automobile DNS, Zur Mythologie des Automobils in der Kontrollgesellschaft, in: Treusch-Dieter, Gerburg, Düker, Ronald, Gehrke, Claudia (Hg)., Konkursbuch Auto, Tübingen 2004, S. 161-170). Translation: G. M. Goshgarian The domestication and subjection of the auto and the self The tremendous success of the “index fossil” known as the automobile finds its explanation in the …
Auto-Mobile DNA, The Mythology of the Automobile in the Society of Control Read More »