Public Interest Technology (PIT) is defined as “technology practitioners who focus on social justice, the common good, and/or the public interest” [1] or “an emphasis on the development of technologies and technical expertise that advance the public good [2]. Our civic-minded community brings together experts with diverse perspectives from a vast array of disciplines. We unite to influence the design and deployment of technology to improve the quality of life for local, regional, and global communities.
We grappled with civic effects. We confronted inequality and injustice in engineering due to racism. The mettle of our moral infrastructure was roused, and aroused. We appreciate sagacious methodology to achieve not only more efficient decarbonized energy usage, but also aesthetically-pleasing designs through community-engaged partnerships to achieve pride of ownership.
Our community contended with conflicts at the intersection of culture and technology. Families are fundamental social units for a sustainable society [3]. We explored cultural impacts of technology on the social and familial fabric of the Iranian culture. There are consequences of technology transfer on cultures in the global periphery; what are the long-term effects of exchanging refuges of peace, tranquility, vitality, and joy for modernization?
To advance food availability and food security, our colleagues benchmarked Israel as a global leader in efficiency, production, and sustainability of dairy farming. We now discern salient correlations between sociocultural contexts and cybersecurity.
Our contributors were concerned with the well-being of the individual, as well as the communities in which we live, work, and play. From earbuds to national parks, we contemplate forfeitures due to technology. We risk self-absorption and loss of collectivity when listening to music in isolation; we deprive ourselves of ecopsychology [4] if we remain untethered from nature.
We were educated by experts who investigate, influence, and implement for the good of society in such spheres as public domain software, cyberbiosecurity, renewable energy, critical race theory, human aspects of cybersecurity and information systems, data visualization, handicapped aids, peace and conflict studies, and medical diagnostics. The experts of our community admirably serve and defend public value for the long-term. We are a formidable PIT community.
Author Information
Christine Perakslis serves as an adjunct professor, as well as a consultant for various industries. She can be reached at perakslis@hotmail.com.