Artificiality, authenticity and appreciation – what is genuineness and what does it matter?

Authors

• Olli Turunen University of Helsinki https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1041-0623

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33355/tw.153470

Keywords:

engineers, Doctors of Science (Technology), goldsmiths, synthetic materials, communications technology, wireless networks, guides (literary works)

Abstract

This issue of Tekniikan Waiheita explores the theme of artificiality through various lenses. Mia Haittoniemi's article examines the development and use of synthetic gemstones in Finnish jewelry guides from the early 1900s to the 1960s, highlighting the technological advancements and market diversification that drive the search for efficient alternatives to rare materials. The history of synthetic substances, from wood-based textile fibers to renewable diesel and AI models, reflects ongoing innovation. Despite industrial production, the quest for authenticity remains significant, as seen in the gemstone guides Haittoniemi studies.

Petri Paju's review discusses the first Finnish doctors of technology, contextualizing their achievements within the broader societal shift in the appreciation of technology, commerce, and practical work since the Renaissance. This historical perspective underscores the evolving value placed on technical education and its societal impact.

Tuomas Pakarinen reviews "Cellular: An Economic and Business History of the International Mobile-Phone Industry" by Daniel Garcia-Swartz and Martin Campbell-Kelly. The book provides a comprehensive overview of the mobile phone industry's economic and business history, though it could benefit from a broader perspective on digital technology. Pakarinen's analysis emphasizes the importance of understanding technological standardization, market structures, and competition in the global mobile phone business.