Technology and rhetoric, toward a rhetoric of the useful function

Abstract

"Acknowledging the need to think technology not only at a systemic level but as well at a particular one, the present paper has the goal to consolidate the investigations about useful technological objects developing the notion of rhetoric of the useful function. It conjectures this notion as the result of a rhetorical intention that exists at the business environment of innovation, which has the objective to put functionalities on the product destined for sell - a persuasive process (Fogg). The consequences are not merely symbolic but specifically functional (Latour), justifying the suggestion of a non representative rhetoric. The present consideration suggests, side by side with technical intention that exists at the stage of object invention (Gille), a rhetorical intention that is present at its innovation level. It proposes the articulation between the latter and the conception that thinks that technological objects produce a program (Latour), although refusing determinism and the view of the object as an actor. It defends, as well, that the creator's intentions (technique and/or rhetoric) has consequences in the use of the objects (Gell) - a technique and/or rhetorical program over users and conjectures the precedence of a problem for which the artefact is the solution (Kubler)."