Description

Book Synopsis
In our everyday activities we use material objects in different shapes and forms to solve various practical problems. We may use a knife to tighten a screw, turn an old washing machine drum into a fireplace, use the edge of a kitchen countertop to open a bottle, or place a hammer on the puncture patch glued to a bike’s inner tube to exert pressure on the patch until the glue dries. How should we identify these objects? What functions do they have?

If we want to understand the role which material objects play in our everyday activities, we need to
move away from universal identifications of objects. This is because universal identifications are not sensitive to contextual differences and cannot describe how each individual user connects to their surrounding objects in an infinite variety of contexts. Problem Solving Technologies provides a user-friendly understanding of technological objects. This book develops a framework to characterise and categorize technological objects at the level of users’ subjective experiences.


Trade Review

As technology continues to dominate our lives in ever more invasive ways, it is imperative that we improve our understanding of it. Soltanzadeh’s thought-provoking study is a further welcome and important step. His problem-solving account of technology is clearly and persuasively argued. It should prove valuable to researchers, students and anyone interested in the current direction of technological development.

-- John Weckert, Professor of Computer Ethics, Charles Sturt University

Table of Contents
  1. Introduction

Part I: The General Categorisation of Technology

  1. Artificial Categorisations
  1. A User-Friendly Metaphysics
  1. Problem Solving Technologies
  1. The Conditions for the Possibility of Technologies

Part II: The Particular Categorisation of Technologies

  1. A Taxonomy of Function Theories
  1. Conservative Functions vs. Authentic Functions
  1. A User-Friendly Theory of Function

Part III: Ontology

  1. Existence of Artefacts
  1. Reality of Technologies

Part IV: Activity Realism in Practice

  1. On the Reality of Scientific Entities
  1. The Human, the Technological, and the Limitations of Autonomous Systems

Bibliography

Index

Problem-Solving Technologies: A User-Friendly

    Product form

    £72.90

    Includes FREE delivery

    RRP £81.00 – you save £8.10 (10%)

    Order before 4pm tomorrow for delivery by Thu 18 Jun 2026.

    A Hardback by Sadjad Soltanzadeh

    Out of stock


      View other formats and editions of Problem-Solving Technologies: A User-Friendly by Sadjad Soltanzadeh

      Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
      Publication Date: 31/01/2022
      ISBN13: 9781538157879, 978-1538157879
      ISBN10: 153815787X

      Description

      Book Synopsis
      In our everyday activities we use material objects in different shapes and forms to solve various practical problems. We may use a knife to tighten a screw, turn an old washing machine drum into a fireplace, use the edge of a kitchen countertop to open a bottle, or place a hammer on the puncture patch glued to a bike’s inner tube to exert pressure on the patch until the glue dries. How should we identify these objects? What functions do they have?

      If we want to understand the role which material objects play in our everyday activities, we need to
      move away from universal identifications of objects. This is because universal identifications are not sensitive to contextual differences and cannot describe how each individual user connects to their surrounding objects in an infinite variety of contexts. Problem Solving Technologies provides a user-friendly understanding of technological objects. This book develops a framework to characterise and categorize technological objects at the level of users’ subjective experiences.


      Trade Review

      As technology continues to dominate our lives in ever more invasive ways, it is imperative that we improve our understanding of it. Soltanzadeh’s thought-provoking study is a further welcome and important step. His problem-solving account of technology is clearly and persuasively argued. It should prove valuable to researchers, students and anyone interested in the current direction of technological development.

      -- John Weckert, Professor of Computer Ethics, Charles Sturt University

      Table of Contents
      1. Introduction

      Part I: The General Categorisation of Technology

      1. Artificial Categorisations
      1. A User-Friendly Metaphysics
      1. Problem Solving Technologies
      1. The Conditions for the Possibility of Technologies

      Part II: The Particular Categorisation of Technologies

      1. A Taxonomy of Function Theories
      1. Conservative Functions vs. Authentic Functions
      1. A User-Friendly Theory of Function

      Part III: Ontology

      1. Existence of Artefacts
      1. Reality of Technologies

      Part IV: Activity Realism in Practice

      1. On the Reality of Scientific Entities
      1. The Human, the Technological, and the Limitations of Autonomous Systems

      Bibliography

      Index

      Recently viewed products

      © 2026 Book Curl

        • American Express
        • Apple Pay
        • Diners Club
        • Discover
        • Google Pay
        • Maestro
        • Mastercard
        • PayPal
        • Shop Pay
        • Union Pay
        • Visa

        Login

        Forgot your password?

        Don't have an account yet?
        Create account