The co-production of chip and society: unpacking packaged knowledge

Computers epitomise the knowledge society and the new economy. Since “Integrated Circuits” (ICs) are at the heart of computers, they are a natural site to visit for anyone trying to understand the pulse of technology and organisations. This article reports on a study of “application-specific integrated circuits” (called ASICs). We show how designing an ASIC and organising the world of producers and users of such devices are intertwined processes, and that computer chips and society are thus co-produced.Taking as our point of departure the claim that objects are simply packaging for human knowledge and ingenuity, we analyse the role of artefacts in the knowledge society. By studying the ways in which ASICs are designed and manufactured we are able to identify and discuss certain ironies regarding the celebrated knowledge society, e.g. that IC users may be able to achieve ever higher aims, while knowing less and less about what makes them able to do so.