We need our brains to adapt advantageously for ingenious design and development, especially as the time between stimulus and response becomes precariously pressurized.
Category: Societal Impact
Which Came First: Technology or Society?
By Jim Isaak on October 2nd, 2017 in Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
Which came first: technology or society? Did the formation of social collaboration among early humanoids precede the first “technological” advances (fire, stone tools, etc.), or did these technologies form the catalyst for building more complex social structures?
The Next Generation of Socio-Technical Systems
By Steghofer on September 29th, 2017 in Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Societal Impact
The next generation of socio-technical system can be seen as a kind of “focal point” for the convergence of a number of current trends in computing, information systems, and information technology. These trends include the technology-driven instrumentation of infrastructure by ubiquitous computing and/or “intelligent” devices, with the prefix “smart” now taking precedence over the prefix “e-,” i.e. SmartGrids, SmartCities, SmartMotorways, etc., rather than the e-commerce. e-health, e-learning initiatives commonplace at the turn of millennium.
On Country
By Alexander Hayes on September 26th, 2017 in Editorial & Opinion, Magazine Articles, Robotics, Societal Impact
Mining has had an impact on many Aboriginal communities in Australia. As we move to a mining sector where dump trucks, underground excavators, loaders, and conveyor systems are transformed into partial or fully autonomous systems, there is little or no human labor required other than to maintain equipment or provide oversight using a range of distant surveillance technologies.
Tragedy of the Digital Commons: Amplified Zombies
By Renato Iannella on September 20th, 2017 in Editorial & Opinion, Magazine Articles, Societal Impact
There is an unshakable faith in our industry that we can do anything and that everything we do must be good and beneficial to society. Our industry has had similar crises before, such as dot-com busts, that exposed our assumptions, but the ideas are still here. As an industry and society, can we continue to develop solutions that unduly amplify human behavior – so that we provide and support a way for harm to be normalized? As an industry and society, can we continue to promote solutions based on long-held and dominate theories – so that the wider community is misled by influential advocates? The answer is a clear “no” to both.
We Are Not Spiritual Machines, We Are People
By Katina Michael on August 22nd, 2017 in Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact, Video & Podcasts, Videos
Katina Michael on “What Makes Us Human?” Recorded on 14 June 2013 at the University of Wollongong, Australia. Video credit… Read More
Katina Michael Receives Brian M. O’Connell Distinguished Service Award
By terribookman on August 10th, 2017 in News and Notes, Societal Impact
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine Editor-in-Chief Katina Michael has been recognized with SSIT’s highest award for service with the Brian M. O’Connell… Read More
The Dangers of Distributed Intelligence
By Guest Author on August 4th, 2017 in Editorial & Opinion, Magazine Articles, Societal Impact
There is an increasing interest in, and implementation of the Internet of Things. As the number and types of interconnections… Read More
Ikehara Collection: Norbert Wiener’s Japan Connections
By Heather Love on August 4th, 2017 in Commentary, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Societal Impact
A new archive of material added a new historical dimension to our discussions of cybernetics at the 2016 Norbert Wiener Conference in Australia.
Thinking Machines in the Physical World
By Arthur Winston on August 4th, 2017 in Commentary, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Societal Impact
Arthur Winston addressed to attendees of the 2016 IEEE Conference on Norbert Wiener in the 21st Century, Melbourne, Australia, held… Read More
Black Mirror
By Doug Hill on August 1st, 2017 in Editorial & Opinion, Ethics, Magazine Articles, Societal Impact
The future as depicted in works of science fiction, especially of the multiplex variety, is almost uniformly dystopian. The bleakness… Read More
The Fleeting Opportunity to Create our Values by Design
By John Havens on August 1st, 2017 in Editorial & Opinion, Magazine Articles, Societal Impact
What are your values? I’m asking you, the reader. As a quick exercise, try to write down ten values you… Read More
Algorithmic Bias: Addressing Growing Concerns
By Guest Author on July 29th, 2017 in Ethics, Leading Edge, Magazine Articles, Societal Impact
In the context of the IEEE Global Initiative for Ethical Considerations in Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Systems, and with support… Read More
Can We Program Ethics into AI?
By Keith Miller on July 29th, 2017 in Ethics, Magazine Articles, Societal Impact
At the IEEE 2016 Conference on Norbert Wiener in the 21st Century, held in Melbourne, Australia, July 13–15, 2016, Keith… Read More
Getting from 1932 to 1945
By Guest Author on July 29th, 2017 in Ethics, Societal Impact
Responsibilities of Scientists and Engineers in Times of Chaos and Upheaval If the future is coming at an ever accelerating… Read More
Not So Fast
By Katina Michael on July 29th, 2017 in Book Reviews, Societal Impact
Not So Fast: Thinking Twice about Technology. By Doug Hill. Univ. of Georgia Press, Oct. 15, 2016, 240 pp. In… Read More
Pressed for Time
By Guest Author on July 29th, 2017 in Book Reviews, Human Impacts, Societal Impact
Pressed for Time: The Acceleration of Life in Digital Capitalism. By Judy Wajcman. Chicago, IL: Univ. of Chicago Press, 2015,… Read More
The Truth about Tesla: The Myth of the Lone Genius in the History of Innovation
By A. David Wunsch on July 28th, 2017 in Book Reviews, Magazine Articles, Societal Impact
By Christopher Cooper. New York: Race Point Publishers, 2015, 195 pages. Ask a “twentysornething” or “millennial” A what the word… Read More
Speaking Out against Socially Destructive Technologies
By Katina Michael on July 28th, 2017 in Editorial & Opinion, Ethics, Magazine Articles, Societal Impact
Norbert Wiener and the Call for Ethical Engagement Over the last century, the greatest acceleration of technological development has come… Read More
Technology and Operational Safety – Police POV Cameras
By ieeessit on June 29th, 2017 in Privacy & Security, Societal Impact
Looxcie 2 Video Camera. Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/54450095@N05/6345166957. The point of view (POV) camera is a compact portable device carried by police… Read More