We initiated this special issue to highlight innovative and essential work underway on technology and analytics for global development. The panoply of important Adaptation and sustainability are essential, enabled by technologies that optimize crop production, improve quality, and protect the environment. topics discussed at ISTAS23 presented a difficult, but welcome challenge of deciding the theme for this special issue.
Category: Human Impacts
Murty Polavarapu Recognized for IEEE Service
By terribookman on November 27th, 2024 in Blog Posts, Human Impacts, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact, SSIT Announcements
Incoming 2025 IEEE SSIT President-Elect Murty Polavarapu was recognized Saturday November 23 with an IEEE Member and Geographic Activities Discretionary Award at the TAB MGA meeting in Dallas, TX, USA. The award was given “in recognition of outstanding contributions as an IEEE MGA volunteer.”
Ramalatha Marimuthu Honored with Meritorious Achievement Award
By terribookman on November 25th, 2024 in Articles, Ethics, Health & Medical, Human Impacts, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact, SSIT Announcements
Ramalatha Marimuthu, who is SSIT’s Madras India Chapter Chair, and a IEEE Transactions on Technology and Society Associate Editor, was recognized November 22, 2024, in Dallas, TX, with the IEEE EAB Meritorious Achievement Award in Continuing Education.
The Ethics of Product Development—Houston, Do We Have a Problem?
By Colin Ashruf on November 15th, 2024 in Articles, Case Studies, Commentary, Environment, Ethics, Health & Medical, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
Though it is hard to find accurate figures on how many products introduced every year fail to meet safety and environmental standards—partly because market surveillance proves to be inadequate [6], while the assessment of market readiness is, in many cases, left to producers themselves [7] —the number may be higher than the public expects.
Call for EIC/Co-EICs of IEEE Transactions on Technology and Society
By John Impagliazzo on November 5th, 2024 in Announcements, Articles, Blog Posts, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact, SSIT Announcements, Transactions
The Society on Social Implications of Technology (SSIT) of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) seeks applications and nominations for the position of Editor-in-Chief (EIC) or Co-Editors-in-Chief (Co-EICs) of the IEEE Transactions on Technology and Society (TTS) for a three-year term (once renewable) beginning 1 January 2026.
Earth3 – A New Podcast from Joe Carvalko
By Joe Carvalko on November 3rd, 2024 in Articles, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blog Posts, Environment, Ethics, Health & Medical, Human Impacts, Podcasts, Robotics, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact, Video & Podcasts
The Earth 3 podcast will explore Earth 1 through the lens of Science, Technology, the Environment, Ethics, and Law, or STEEL for short.
Regenerative Agriculture and Sustainable Stewardship
By Ann-Louise Davidson on October 28th, 2024 in Articles, Editorial & Opinion, Environment, Ethics, Health & Medical, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
Regenerative agriculture involves improving, not depleting, the resources used. Cora and Mike’s methods emphasize the symbiotic relationship between the animals and the land, ensuring that both thrive in a balanced and healthy environment.
Modem Futura Podcast Launches
By terribookman on October 25th, 2024 in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blog Posts, Ethics, Health & Medical, Human Impacts, Podcasts, Robotics, Societal Impact, Video & Podcasts
Modem Futura is your guide to the bold frontiers of tomorrow.
Technology, Society, and Generational Interoperability—An Incredible July 2024
By Luis Kun on October 15th, 2024 in Articles, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, President's Message, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
Aging provides us the ability to look back and compare different time periods in our lifetime while using technology as a “point of reference.”
Food Security and Agriculture: Technology, Policy, Choices
By Ketra Schmitt on October 1st, 2024 in Articles, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Case Studies, Editorial & Opinion, Environment, Ethics, Health & Medical, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
Food security and agriculture are complex systems that interconnect with many other issues, including poverty and environmental sustainability. These urgent issues inspire proposals for technological solutions. Emerging technologies are often proposed as ways to increase food supply to end hunger. Other proposals target agricultural practice, grounded in the knowledge that agriculture has a large carbon footprint, and the fear that the negative climate impacts of agriculture would worsen as the population increases.
IEEE ETHICS 2025 Set for June 6-8, 2025, in Evanston, IL USA
By terribookman on September 30th, 2024 in Articles, Blog Posts, Call for Papers, Conferences, Ethics, Human Impacts, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact, SSIT Announcements
Call for Papers — IEEE ETHICS-2025: Emerging Technologies, Ethics, and Social Justice — 6-8 June 2025, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois (Chicago Area), USA
ISTAS 2024 Wraps, ISTAS 2025 Location and Date Announced: September 10-12, 2025, Santa Clara, CA
By terribookman on September 30th, 2024 in Articles, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blog Posts, Conferences, Environment, Ethics, Human Impacts, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact, Standards
ISTAS25 will be held at Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, CA, September 10-12, 2025, and themed AI Evolution and Revolution.
Day Two of ISTAS 2024 Features IEEE President-Elect Kathleen Kramer, and Panel on Risks of GenAI
By terribookman on September 19th, 2024 in Articles, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blog Posts, Conferences, Environment, Ethics, Human Impacts, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact, Standards
ISTAS 2024 continued on Thursday September 19 in Puebla, Mexico, with a second day of outstanding programming addressing the social implications of artificial intelligence, as well as sustainability and climate change, ethics and human values, and technology policy and law.
ISTAS 2024 Kicks Off with Discussion of Social Implications of AI
By terribookman on September 19th, 2024 in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blog Posts, Conferences, Human Impacts, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact, Standards
CS president Jyotika Athavale called the conference’s topic a reminder to IEEE members and the technical community that “everything we do has a lasting impact… that extends far beyond the insularity of the scientific community” to encompass the “broader implications” of technology, and in particular artificial intelligence.
Text Neck: Looking Down at Devices for Way Too Long
By Katina Michael on September 18th, 2024 in Articles, Case Studies, Commentary, Environment, Ethics, Health & Medical, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
Text Neck is a classic ergonomic issue that has come about as a direct result of technological innovation, as people have begun to increasingly use digital media of all types to text, talk, browse the internet, listen to music, watch videos, or play online games.
ISTAS 2024 Has Officially Opened!
By terribookman on September 18th, 2024 in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blog Posts, Call for Papers, Conferences, Human Impacts, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact, SSIT Announcements
ISTAS 2024 in Puebla, Mexico, has officially opened!
Tom Coughlin 2024 IEEE President gave the opening address this morning September 18, 2024, via recorded feed.
Virtual registration is still available for attendees outside of Mexico.
Advancing Gender Equality Through Interdisciplinarity
By Lindsay Rodgers on August 28th, 2024 in Articles, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Commentary, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
There is a clear parallel between conceptualizations of comedy clubs and AI labs as masculine spaces, and jokes and technology as for men. As Sutko writes, [AI] technology often gets equated with “men’s power,” while women and girls are portrayed as less technologically skilled and less interested than their male counterparts. Such stereotypes can contribute to the gender gap in women’s participation in related fields.
Introducing the Editorial Board—Part II
By Ketra Schmitt on August 15th, 2024 in Articles, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, News and Notes, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
Welcome to the second installment of “Meet the Editorial Board.” We are delighted to introduce you to some more members of the IEEE Technology and Society Magazine’s editorial board.
When Not to Use AI
By Ketra Schmitt on July 17th, 2024 in Articles, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Case Studies, Editorial & Opinion, Ethics, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
While AI-generated responses can initially seem impressive, LLM and AI generated texts suffer from multiple risks, including hallucination and inaccuracy.
Enhancing Sustainability in Resource-Limited Environments: Government, Culture, and AI
By Alex Roig Albeda on July 10th, 2024 in Articles, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Case Studies, Commentary, Environment, Ethics, Health & Medical, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
Spain’s Comunitat Valenciana (Valencian Community) (Figure 1) has a rich agricultural history, with long traditions of resilience and innovation. This tradition,… Read More