Aims and objectives

Through a series of historical case studies, this work aims to examine the cultural, social and environmental issues of technological domestication. The objectives are:

· To review and adapt the concept of domestication for use in case studies with strong producer/consumer distinctions;

· To develop a series of case studies examining their specific innovation ecosystems, and socio-technical issues of domestication;

·  To interpret the impact of design on the technologies in question on the indigenous peoples, the colonisers, social dynamics and the development of the technology itself; 

· To illuminate the structure and function of the imperial project via the study of design, innovation and the domestication of technology

Previous research by the PI and CI into the Sutherland reclamations and the Fowlers steam plough, c.1855-85 led to findings on the role of social networks in agricultural innovation. We have made preliminary investigations into areas such as mining, communication and refrigeration, and would use this funding to select and develop five case studies on technological development in the British Empire during the same period. Access to appropriate archives and travel limitations will also be considered in their selection. While it is anticipated that the results will lead to a number of academic findings, the intention is that in establishing the validity of this approach that larger, longer-term research funding can be secured. This will move beyond using case studies to the application of the framework to different sectors and contemporary contexts and design issues.