Cyber-physical Systems

11Beyond Technology

In Chapter 2, the definition of systems was introduced together with a method to specifically demarcate them in their peculiarity in order to guide the analysis of their particular (physical) realizations. At this point, the fundamentals of the theory of cyber‐physical systems (CPSs) have been already presented, together with more practical examples and the description of the key enabling information and communication technologies (ICTs). What is still missing is the necessary articulation of the technical dimension as part of the social whole. The determination of a particular system by explicitly considering its conditions of reproduction and external conditions allows the CPS designer or analyst to define the level of effectivity of aspects beyond the technical development itself.

CPSs do exist materially in the world to perform specific functions. They affect, and are affected by, existing social practices; they may also create new practices, possibly modifying some aspects of society by reinforcing or challenging them. For example, during the decade that started in 2011, the growth of social media interactions, the widespread of high‐speed mobile Internet and the development of algorithms for pattern recognition have produced changes in established political and economic practices (e.g. [1]). These effects are far from linear and can be seen as part of the different CPS self‐developing reflexive–active dynamics that are relatively autonomous, but not ...