Retrovaatiot – ajatuksia teknologian historian hyödyllisyydestä

Kirjoittajat

• Jaakko Suominen
• Anna Sivula

Abstrakti

Retrovations – Perspectives to usefulness of history of technology

The article introduces a concept of retrovation. It refers to an innovation, which utilizes knowledge concerning the past. Suominen and Sivula use examples such as the Navajo and other Native American languages used as code during the Second World War, sails used in space, or the Habbo Hotel web platform designed to look like 1980s video games. Retrovation is seen as more than a retro trend or nostalgia used for marketing. It is the revival of disused technologies in conjunction with modern day demands and new technologies in an innovative way. The aim of the article is to reflect theoretical as well as more practical possibilities of retrovation and to make an overview to various examples of retrovations.