If Foucault had been an engineer: Exploring the OSI model through the philosophy of Michel Foucault

Abstract

Technology and knowledge have historically been influenced by power relations that determine what is legitimate, what is obsolete, and which direction innovations should follow. The OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) Model is a model developed in the 1980s that proposes a standardized and normalized structure of blocks or layers for building computing and communications systems. This model is a counterpart to the Proprietary Systems, typical of the 1970s, in which each manufacturer offered its own model, which was partially or completely incompatible with that of another manufacturer, thus fostering a favorable environment for the generation of captive customers.
This article examines how the transition from Proprietary Systems to Open Systems can be interpreted, through Michel Foucault's thought, as part of a disciplinary mechanism that reorganizes knowledge and power around technology. By means of a critical analysis, we will explore how technical normalization and standardization operate as power devices that shape not only the industry but also the thinking of engineers and users themselves. Finally, the central question leading this discussion is whether we are truly witnessing a liberating advance, or whether openness is merely a new way of closure.