The key question for the future is that with all the investment in new technologies, by both governments and business organizations, can regulation keep up with developments?
Tag: Blog post
Polling bias and American resistance to tech regulation
By cia romano on March 19th, 2019 in Blog Posts, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
The word “regulation” has been demonized by those who back an unfettered world of sink-or-swim markets. Yet the need for order – not to mention the defense of the defenseless – is essential to a free and functioning society.
SSIT Launches New Publication: Transactions on Technology and Society
By John Impagliazzo on January 2nd, 2019 in Magazine Articles, News and Notes, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
SSIT launches a new publication: IEEE Transactions on Technology and Society
What’s left after “move fast and break things”? A solid approach to order
By cia romano on December 28th, 2018 in Blog Posts, Human Impacts, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
The assumption has been that consumers will jump at hype. Yet here at the end of 2018, it can be argued that the venality of tech giants has deflated the very hype cycle upon which those companies depend.
Philip Koopman Receives IEEE Carl Barus Award
By terribookman on November 29th, 2018 in Case Studies, Ethics, News and Notes, Social Implications of Technology
Dr. Philip Koopman of Carnegie Mellon University received the IEEE SSIT Carl Barus Award for Outstanding Service in the Public Interest on November 13, 2018, in Washington, DC.
Thank You, But No: Facebook’s “Portal” Is A Wild Misjudgment
By cia romano on November 2nd, 2018 in Blog Posts, Privacy & Security, Societal Impact
Portal says that privacy is “built into every layer.” Despite the company’s reassurances about privacy, users are backing away.
In Professionals We Trust—Or Do We?
By Karl Stephan on October 1st, 2018 in Articles, Health & Medical, Human Impacts
Originally published in The Engineering Ethics blog, August 6, 2018. In a recent New York Times opinion piece, science journalist Melinda Wenner… Read More
The Not-So-Silent Scream: Speculative Film Goes Full Dark
By cia romano on September 7th, 2018 in Blog Posts, Human Impacts, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
What are the potential consequences of mistrust, fear, or simple disinterest in technologies that have become an actual or perceived necessity to millions?
Call for Papers – Special Issue of IEEE Technology and Magazine
By Jeremy Pitt on July 21st, 2018 in Magazine Articles, Societal Impact
The aim of this special issue is to evaluate the social impact and social implications of new and emerging technologies on governance, politics, public administration, and policy-making, and to evaluate the future prospects of digital democracy, and its transformative potential for increasing public engagement, community empowerment, and social entrepreneurship.
CALL FOR PAPERS – ISTAS 2018
By Greg Adamson on June 12th, 2018 in Call for Papers, Conferences, Societal Impact
We welcome proposals for papers, parallel panel and workshop sessions focused on the relationship between technology, policy and social issues ranging from the economic and ethical to the cultural and environmental.
Cultural Perspectives of AI
By Jim Isaak on May 11th, 2018 in Articles, Privacy & Security, Societal Impact
How does your culture view the potential for AI?
Monetizing vs Engineering – Motivating Change
By Jim Isaak on April 27th, 2018 in Articles, Human Impacts
Do you want to attract the best people? Give them a problem with a purpose. Give them room to work. Give them recognition for their successes — not just internally, but encouraging them to share these at conferences, or in relevant peer communities.
Why Did the AI Cross The Road: AI Rationale
By Jim Isaak on April 20th, 2018 in Articles, Robotics
We are asking for AI rationale that can be used to improve operations, or attribute liability. This effort is doomed to failure, and may lead to greater problems.
The Danger of Empathy for Robots
By Jim Isaak on April 13th, 2018 in Articles, Robotics, Societal Impact
One result of increased AI integration will be increased empathy for robots. This transformation has potential upsides and risks.
Chris Wylie’s Frankenstein
By Jim Isaak on March 23rd, 2018 in Articles, Case Studies, Ethics, Societal Impact
“Why would a Russian oil company want to target information on American voters?” Chris asks in the article. Cambridge Analytica claims to have 4000-5000 data points on 230,000,000 U.S. adults.
AI Future: Microsoft’s View
By Jim Isaak on March 16th, 2018 in Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
Skilling-up for an AI-powered world involves more than science, technology, engineering and math. As computers behave more like humans, the social sciences and humanities will become even more important. Languages, art, history, economics, ethics, philosophy, psychology and human development courses can teach critical, philosophical and ethics-based skills that will be instrumental in the development and management of AI solutions.
AI Tipping Point
By Jim Isaak on March 9th, 2018 in Articles, Ethics, Human Impacts, Social Implications of Technology
Prior to 2016 there was little press with occasional hype about artificial intelligence. Somewhere in the last two years we… Read More
RoI of Space Travel
By Jim Isaak on March 2nd, 2018 in Articles, Human Impacts
What year will we return to the Moon? When will we have our first colony there? What are the corresponding dates for Mars?
Profit vs. Society
By Jim Isaak on February 23rd, 2018 in Articles, Societal Impact
Some cultures and many corporations have relinquished non-financial objectives to the sacred bottom line. Yet there are values beyond profit that tend to dominate our satisfaction as humans. It would be nice if some of these could become the measure of corporate return-on-investment, or the benefits of a given country.
IoT National Security Issues
By Jim Isaak on February 16th, 2018 in Articles, Privacy & Security
National security issues arise when IoT reporting reveals information about troop movements and locations.