Actor Network Theory and its relevancy in modern computing: An analysis of two computing stories

INTRODUCTION TO
COMPUTING

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................1
Actor Network Theory and its relevancy...............................................................................1
Two computing stories...........................................................................................................1
“The computer that knows what you're thinking”.....................................................................2
CONCLUSION..........................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES...........................................................................................................................5

INTRODUCTION
Computing is a goal oriented activity which requires general benefit from different
algorithmic processes with the help of computers. Computing generally includes designing,
developing and structuring the hardware and software system, processing, structuring and
managing different types of information, etc. Computing also has something which is quite
narrowly defined and treated the mentioned term as a Discipline (Ekanayake and Fox, 2010).
This present report is based on two new stories of computing and these stories have been
analysed with the help of using the Actor Network Theory. This assignment is an essay preview
perceiving reader to know about modern computing which does not act in isolation.
Actor Network Theory and its relevancy
Actor Network Theory (ANT) is becoming common among the information system
researchers as this study argues regarding the utility of actor- network theory as a conceptual
framework for information system researcher. This actor network theory is an approach to the
social theory which originates in the field of social science which generally treats objects as a
part of social networks (Munro, 2009). Further, this ANT is considered as a constructive
approach and it generally avoids essential explanations for all new events and innovations. This
theory further makes relationship with those entities who are dealing in the fields of sociology
and anthropology. Moreover, there is generally one aspect which makes this theory applicable
for the field of information system research as this theory contradict different between the human
and non- human entities in ontological level. Further, this theory is in graphical format and
generally there are two views of the actor network theory and the first view in this is of the
network of actors for a particular time refereed as a network theory model. It refers as a view
instance of a freeze frame (Alcadipani and Hassard, 2010). On the other hand, the second view
reflecting up the dynamics nature of the actor network and it is generally shown as a time line
with relevant events which are usually recorded and referenced to each of the actor network
theory models which are visible on the time line. Moreover, these actors have to be considered in
their own rights and can never be intermediary who simply relying an effect of one entity to
another without transforming. Moreover, these actors in actor network theory can be human,
technology and even can be intangible actors (Munro, 2009).
Two computing stories
1