We invite you to join us at Digital Platforms and Societal Harms, taking place 2 and 3 October at American University in Washington, D.C. and with keynote panels available in hybrid mode to enable online attendance, and – this is where you come in – though local in-person events that can be hosted by IEEE Sections or Chapters anywhere in the world.
Category: Human Impacts
Ensuring Food Security Through Meal Optimization
By Liselotte Schafer Elinder on September 4th, 2023 in Articles, Commentary, Environment, Ethics, Health & Medical, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
It is fully possible to design diets that are nutritionally adequate, with 65% lower greenhouse gas emissions, and which do not cost more than the baseline diet.
Reimagining Digital Public Spaces and Artificial Intelligence for Deep Cooperation
By Peter Lewis on August 20th, 2023 in Articles, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Commentary, Ethics, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
What role does and can AI play in us being able to enjoy security in our places and spaces? Perhaps we could design technology-enabled spaces for the purpose of strengthening the community and empowering community action.
Securitization for Sustainability of People and Place
By Katina Michael on August 4th, 2023 in Articles, Editorial & Opinion, Ethics, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
The purpose of this special issue is to explore and address complex securitization-related challenges, from a broader perspective and across various dimensions and sectors, that transcend disciplinary boundaries, focusing on the role of technology relevant to the securitization of people and place, while also considering the transdisciplinarity and the socio-historical originals of securitization.
Futural Appropriation
By Jeremy Pitt on July 24th, 2023 in Articles, Editorial & Opinion, Ethics, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
Generation Z and Millennials face different types of insider threat, in three different dimensions of space: to resources, to citizenship, and to boundaries.
The Role of Early Social Development in Networking and “Serendipity”
By Luis Kun on July 21st, 2023 in Articles, Health & Medical, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, President's Message, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
It was a wonderful experience for me to live all of these events and realize later how everything is really connected. Where will new generations of kids get their “social skills” developed, considering that most of their social relations and interactions happen virtually through their phones or computers while avoiding in-person interactions?
IEEE SSIT’s Division VI Connections
By Luis Kun on June 29th, 2023 in Blog Posts, Human Impacts, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact, SSIT Announcements
The Society on Social Implications of Technology is one of seven IEEE technical societies that make up IEEE Division VI.
BOOK REVIEW: How to Talk to a Science Denier
By Jacob Ossar on June 15th, 2023 in Articles, Book Reviews, Case Studies, Environment, Ethics, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
The fact that science denial is deeply implicated in identity helps explain why science deniers are usually unmoved by contrary evidence that on a purely rational level should be extremely convincing.
What if Generative AI Destroys Biometric Security?
By terribookman on June 13th, 2023 in Articles, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blog Posts, Human Impacts, Podcasts, Societal Impact, Video & Podcasts
Listen in on this Economist podcast… featuring IEEE Transactions on Technology and Society EIC Katina Michael.
Registration Now Open! ISTAS 2023 – 13-15 September 2023 – Swansea University, Wales
By terribookman on June 13th, 2023 in Articles, Blog Posts, Conferences, Human Impacts, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact, SSIT Announcements
Registration Now Open! IEEE International Symposium on Technology and Society (ISTAS 2023)
BOOK REVIEW: The Smart Wife: Why Siri, Alexa, and Other Smart Home Devices Need a Feminist Reboot
By Rachel Maines on May 23rd, 2023 in Articles, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Book Reviews, Ethics, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Robotics, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
Strengers, an Associate Professor of Digital Technology at Monash University, and Kennedy, a postdoc at RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, argue that if we proceed down the current path of making our digital assistants, fembots, gynoids, and voice-activated devices look, sound, and/or behave like simulacra of women, we risk reinforcing traditional gender stereotypes in ways that could rebound on real women.
BOOK REVIEW: Atomic Doctors: Conscience and Complicity at the Dawn of the Nuclear Age
By Rachelle Linner on May 1st, 2023 in Articles, Book Reviews, Environment, Ethics, Health & Medical, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
Dr. Nolan and his colleagues were responsible for developing standards to protect against radiation exposure in the laboratory and during the Trinity Test in July 1945. The physicians were continually frustrated by their inability to convince the military about the dangers of radiation but “there is considerable evidence to suggest that the doctors were ever mindful of potential legal consequences and careful to take precautions to protect themselves and the military from future litigation.”
Can God Be an AI with Robo-Priests?
By MG Michael on April 15th, 2023 in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Human Impacts, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact, Transactions
In our time, it is not mythologies or idols in the place of God, but a new divinity, an “AI-centric” God, which according to some in the transhumanist movement, advocates for the enhancement of the human condition in terms of both its longevity and cognition. The rubrics of a divinatory algorithm would be shaped dependent on one’s philosophical or religious orientation or even all of the wisdom literature merged together.
Book Review: Social Engineering: How Crowdmasters, Phreaks, Hackers, and Trolls Created a New Form of Manipulative Communication
By Nathaniel Knopf on April 15th, 2023 in Articles, Book Reviews, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
Social media companies have intentionally created platforms that actively spread disinformation. What can we do to protect our society against disinformation? A good place to start would be limiting how large and powerful these social media platforms can get.
The Unexpected Value of Volunteering
By Luis Kun on April 4th, 2023 in Articles, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, President's Message, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
When you actively participate in an area in which you are “passion-driven,” others notice, and opportunities will open for you. For young people, I suggest
find your passion, volunteer, and get involved.
“It Sets Boundaries Making Your Life Personal and More Comfortable”: Understanding Young People’s Privacy Needs and Concerns
By Rys Farthing on March 17th, 2023 in Articles, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Privacy & Security, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
Young people’s unique understandings and perspectives are often not considered in debates and discussions around privacy and security. This article outlines a youth-centric notion of digital privacy and guiding principles around privacy developed by young people from Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Ghana, and Slovenia.
Toxic Technology
By Jeremy Pitt on March 16th, 2023 in Articles, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Communication Technology, Editorial & Opinion, Ethics, Health & Medical, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
Technology has always been about more than simply a route to increased productivity and economic growth; technology also provides the opportunity to enhance, enrich, and empower—basically, to improve shared qualitative values or people’s quality of life (however that is measured). On the flip side, technology also provides the opportunity to develop and project organizational control, which itself can be weaponized to quantitatively determine human value as an asset to that organization, or to reinforce asymmetric power relationships.
An Artful Approach: Reflecting on the Past to Forewarn and Foretell
By Christine Perakslis on March 6th, 2023 in Articles, Human Impacts, Last Word, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
From the social unity of Ubuntu to the socially ingrained dispositions of habitus, our authors helped us to perceive the value of intentionally weaving together threads of history to shape the present and future social fabric of humanity.
Riding the New York Subway: The Invention of the Modern Passenger
By A. David Wunsch on March 6th, 2023 in Articles, Book Reviews, Case Studies, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
Stefan Höhne dives into a wealth of letters—correspondence sent to the New York City Transit Authority in the period 1955–1968.
Is AI Going to Replace You?
By terribookman on March 6th, 2023 in Articles, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blog Posts, Human Impacts, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact, Video & Podcasts, Videos
Professor Katina Michael of Arizona State University in the School for the Future of Innovation in Society discusses ChatGPT and its implications. From The List Show TV.