Culture and Technology

Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to discuss the mutual influence between culture and technology on a broad inter- and transcultural level. Especially, how does information culture shape the meaning of information, communication, and knowledge, and consequently, the design, spread, and usage of ICTs in certain societies? Vice versa, we are interested in the ways in which the spread and usage of ICTs affect the predominating culture. We aim for a model that incorporates cultural as well as technological factors in order to provide a basis for future ICT research that goes beyond both technological determinism and social constructivism. We believe that new technologies indeed can contribute to more justice in the world in terms of access to knowledge and wealth, if sociocultural factors are taken into account more seriously. Current developments in the context of the UN World Summit on the Information Society raise awareness in this direction. At the same time, we are well aware that the loose notion and imprecise definition of the concept of culture allows for the exploitation of the term in empty political and technoeconomical policies. Culture degenerates to an indispensable buzzword in the current ICT debate. This chapter is an attempt to introduce the concept of culture into the socioresponsible ICT research on equal terms with technology, economy, and society.

Development of a method for experimental investigation of combustion process in lean burn gas engines

“…The search for materials was carried out to explain the results of previous experiments on the engine test bench and to identify possible causes of CI of both the work process and spark discharge. Among a small number of materials on this subject, the papers [2][3][4][5][6] that allow a detailed analysis of a wide range of causes of CI of lean burn in gas engines and determining their cause-effect relationships can be singled out.…”

“…6). The initial conditions before the flame kernel formation -mixture composition and stratification degree, charging and profile of mixture motion in the combustion chamber, energy supply through the ignition system -can vary from cycle to cycle for a number of reasons [2][3][4]8]. The parameters of these processes can be described by values with a random distribution according to a certain law, which corresponds to the actual state in practice.…”

“…One way to significantly reduce emissions of NOx in exhaust gases and improve efficiency is lean burn [1][2][3] (Fig. 1).…”

“…1. Effect of load conditions and composition of the methane-air mixture on the composition of exhaust gases, probability of detonation and region of possible misfires [3] Deep mixture leaning and/or dilution with a noncombustible component is accompanied by the known difficulties -an increase in cyclic instability (Fig. 2), increased misfire rate and increased emission of unburned CxHy hydrocarbons, which imposes restrictions on the maximum applicable value of the air-fuel ratio and operating mode of the gas engine ( Fig.…”

“…2), increased misfire rate and increased emission of unburned CxHy hydrocarbons, which imposes restrictions on the maximum applicable value of the air-fuel ratio and operating mode of the gas engine ( Fig. 1), reducing its consumer qualities [2,3]. For example, for the industrial gas engines, the operation is allowed that satisfies the following conditions:…”