In this 1991 essay, Winner explains the often overlooked consequences of technology on different aspects of society such as power and wealth, social mobility, and gender equality. He urges that instead of being driven only to produce better technology than our competitors, we should take these other factors more into account when designing technology. Winner suggests that when technology is being designed, the possible social effects of it should be looked at ahead of time, so they can be considered and worked on in the design of the technology. He suggests that all parties that will be affected by the technology, such as workers using a technology, be a part of the design. His main emphasis is that the technology design process should be much more centered on the democratizing or non-democratizing effects of the technology, and not just the technology.

In this essay, Winner discusses how technology can be democratic and how it can also be very non-democratic. He shows how to look at technology to determine its effects. He juxtaposes the conventional view of technology with his own unique way of looking at it.
 

Conventional View/Questions                        Winner's View/Questions