New technologies increase the abilities of people. For example, bikes, cares, and planes enable people to cover larger distances. This allows them to experience and interpret the world in new and flexible ways.

Interpretative flexibility is a necessary feature of technology and refers to the different ways in which social groups interpret a technology.

The same technology can be interpreted in different way, but interpretative flexibility is reduced once the best technical design is identified.

Technologies can be more or less interpretative flexible. More flexible technologies can be used in more contexts and can be adapted to local requirements. This increases the chance of their success.