[Technical Infrastructures as Products and Producers of Time]

Area of Science:

• History of Technology
• Infrastructure Studies
• Temporal Theory

Context:

• The concept of time is increasingly debated in historical research, particularly within the history of technology.
• Despite this, time remains under-explored in historical research on infrastructures.
• This study addresses this gap by examining the interplay between networked infrastructures and time.

Purpose:

• To explore the reciprocal relationship between networked infrastructures and time.
• To present metaphors such as 'time layer' and 'palimpsest' for analyzing historical layers within infrastructures.
• To introduce 'inscription' and 'overwriting' as metaphors for processes shaping temporality in infrastructures.

Summary:

• Infrastructures contain historical 'time layers' from different epochs, evident in technical components, organizational structures, and routines.
• Infrastructures actively produce temporality by shaping the circulation of people, information, and goods.
• The study proposes analyzing these temporal dynamics through metaphors of 'time layer,' 'palimpsest,' 'inscription,' and 'overwriting,' ultimately describing the resulting structured circulation as 'rhythms.'

Impact:

• Offers a novel framework for understanding the complex temporal dimensions of infrastructures.
• Highlights how historical layers within infrastructures contribute to the formation of observable 'rhythms' of circulation.
• Provides analytical tools for historians and researchers studying the long-term development and impact of technological systems.