This special issue published in cooperation with IEEE Transactions on Technology and Society (December 2021) is dedicated to examining the governance of artificial intelligence (AI) through soft law. These programs are characterized by the creation of substantive expectations that are not directly enforced by government.
Category: Human Impacts
How to Design a Digital World Where Children Can Thrive
By terribookman on January 20th, 2022 in Articles, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Human Impacts, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact, SSIT Announcements
IEEE 2089™-2021, Standard for an Age-Appropriate Digital Services Framework Based on the 5Rights Principles for Children is the first in a family of standards that establishes a set of processes that helps enable organizations to make their services age-appropriate.
Growing a Culture of Technological Stewardship
By Jason Lajoie on January 15th, 2022 in Articles, Commentary, Environment, Ethics, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
The negative effects of technological innovations can be foreseen, and more importantly, mitigated through more intentional and skillful engineering. Systematic efforts to address these impacts remain peripheral to the engineering profession. The Canada-based Engineering Change Laboratory has identified a set of behaviors that take a value sensitive approach to the practice and culture of engineering.
Katina Michael Receives IEEE Standards Association Special Recognition Award
By terribookman on January 8th, 2022 in Articles, Human Impacts, Social Implications of Technology, Standards
Katina Michael has been recognized with a 2021 IEEE Standards Association (IEEE SA) Managing Director’s Special Recognition Award “in appreciation of her leadership in advancing age-appropriate design standardization” in the creation of IEEE Standard 2089.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution Will Not Bring the Future We Want
By Chris J. Barton on December 10th, 2021 in Articles, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Editorial & Opinion, Ethics, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Robotics, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
The promise of 4IR is overblown and its perils are underappreciated. There are compelling reasons to reject—and even actively oppose—the 4IR narrative.
Autonomous Vehicles in Rural Communities: Is It Feasible?
By Diandra Prioleau on December 2nd, 2021 in Articles, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Commentary, Environment, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Robotics, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
Although much research has been devoted to the effects of autonomous vehicles (AVs) on urban areas, little work has been dedicated to the potential impacts of AVs in rural areas, especially related to feasibility and accessibility [1]. How will automated vehicles impact rural communities?
Toward an Open Web (of Things)
By Bart Moons on November 23rd, 2021 in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Editorial & Opinion, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
The Web has entered an unfair culture where big tech companies offer free applications in exchange for the right to sell our user-generated content.
Next Steps for Social Robotics in an Aging World
By Jordan Miller on November 11th, 2021 in Articles, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Health & Medical, Human Impacts, Leading Edge, Magazine Articles, Robotics, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
The technologies being investigated may hold a promising future for the elderly population, allowing people to continue to live inside their homes while aging.
Not Another Panic Button: Meaningful Inclusion in Technology Development
By terribookman on November 7th, 2021 in Articles, Communication Technology, Ethics, Health & Medical, Human Impacts, Leading Edge, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
Hackathons and other well-intentioned efforts to solve social problems using technology must also include the meaningful participation of affected individuals… Read More
ISTAS21: Workshop on Artificial Intelligence for Equity
By terribookman on October 21st, 2021 in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Conferences, Ethics, Human Impacts, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact, SSIT Announcements, Video & Podcasts, Videos
AI4Eq — Mark your calendars for Wednesday, Oct 27 from 9 AM – 5 PM (EDT)
Sun Exposure and Physical Activity: The Valuable Role of UV Wearables
By Jennifer Vanos on October 20th, 2021 in Health & Medical, Human Impacts, Leading Edge, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology
The wearable industry is responding to the needs of researchers and consumers with improved UV-wearable technologies.
Second International Workshop on Artificial Intelligence for Equity (AI4Eq) Against Modern Indentured Servitude
By terribookman on October 10th, 2021 in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Conferences, Human Impacts, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact, SSIT Announcements
Second International Workshop on Artificial Intelligence for Equity (AI4Eq) Against Modern Indentured Servitude
Co-Designing the Future With Public Interest Technology
By Roba Abbas on October 6th, 2021 in Editorial & Opinion, Ethics, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
PIT acknowledges that technological potential can be harnessed to satisfy the needs of civil society. In other words, technology can be seen as a public good that can benefit all, through an open democratic system of governance, with open data initiatives, open technologies, and open systems/ecosystems designed for the collective good, as defined by respective communities that will be utilizing them.
Call for Papers — IEEE TSM Special Issue on “After Covid-19: Crises, Ethics, and Socio-Technical Change”
By Katina Michael on October 5th, 2021 in Call for Papers, Health & Medical, Human Impacts, Privacy & Security, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact, Transactions
As the COVID-19 pandemic shows, crises can catalyze socio-technical changes at a speed and scale otherwise thought impossible. Crises expose the fragility and resilience of our sociotechnical systems – from healthcare to financial markets, internet connectivity, and local communities.
How Universal Is Our Message?
By Clint Andrews on October 1st, 2021 in Articles, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, President's Message, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
Critical thinking is a mainstream part of some educational traditions, but is it universally valued? Only some truths have an objective basis and many others depend on the eye of the beholder. No real society values everyone equally.
Watch: An Introduction to SSIT
By terribookman on September 12th, 2021 in Call for Volunteers, Conferences, Environment, Ethics, Human Impacts, Privacy & Security, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact, SSIT Announcements, Video & Podcasts, Videos
IEEE SSIT: Who we are, what we care about, and our history within the IEEE organization.
The Need for Public Interest Technology
By Jeremy Pitt on September 7th, 2021 in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Editorial & Opinion, Ethics, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
Systems can be designed using methodologies like value-sensitive design, and operationalized, to produce socio-technical solutions to support or complement policies that address environmental sustainability, social justice, or public health. Such systems are then deployed in order to promote the public interest or enable users to act (individually and at scale) in a way that is in the public interest toward individual and communal empowerment.
When Outlandish Science Fiction Becomes Real
By cia romano on September 5th, 2021 in Blog Posts, Case Studies, Environment, Health & Medical, Human Impacts, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
The nuclear anxiety of the Cold War now seems quaint. While speculative writers of the late 20th-early 21st centuries have largely relegated nukes to the past, the situation at San Onofre reminds us of our sins — of assuming the future would take care of the future. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission enabled this consensual hallucination. Did it take climate change into consideration?
SSIT Student Essay Contest – Deadline Extended!
By Heather Love on September 2nd, 2021 in Announcements, Conferences, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
If you are an undergraduate student interested in examining the social implications of technology, submit your work for a chance to publish your work and win cash prizes!
Reflection for a More Equitable World Post-Pandemic
By Christine Perakslis on September 2nd, 2021 in Ethics, Human Impacts, Last Word, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
Reflective thinking allows humans to examine the past with intentionality, learn from what happened, and adapt accordingly. We explore thoughts, feelings, and actions, mine out insights, and enhance awareness.