Oreskes’ answer to the question “Why Trust Science” is that science is trustworthy to the extent that the social process by which scientists vet research findings and reach (or fail to reach) a consensus about them is open to a diverse community of scientists with ample opportunity to make objections and critiques and have that feedback taken seriously.
Tag: Showcase
BOOK REVIEW – Scientists Under Surveillance: The FBI Files
By James R. Russell on June 1st, 2022 in Articles, Book Reviews, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Privacy & Security, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
The volume under review is a selection of declassified FBI documents, reproduced in facsimile, from the Cold War era files of 16 people (15 men and one woman) described as scientists.
BOOK REVIEW: Talk Radio’s America: How an Industry Took Over a Political Party That Took Over the United States
By Vincent Mosco on May 8th, 2022 in Book Reviews, Communication Technology, Ethics, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
The book documents Limbaugh’s formative role in turning an old technology into an instrument of power that transformed the Republican Party and political discourse in the United States. The talk-radio host proved to be a success as both a propagandist and a ratings builder. Station owners were quick to join his syndicated network and to hire personalities who combined Limbaugh’s smooth delivery, ability to empathize with his audience, biting humor, and relentless attack on all things liberal—real or imagined. Profit mattered but winning the “culture war” counted for as much if not more than Rosenwald cares to consider.
The New York Times Test: An Intersubjective Reconsideration
By Mahdi Kafaee on April 28th, 2022 in Articles, Editorial & Opinion, Ethics, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
When faced with an ethical problem such as a conflict of interest in which codes of ethics or available ethical problem-solving methods cannot help us decide upon the moral course of action to take. A method claimed to be helpful in such situations is The New York Times Test.
Preparing to Design Robots for Social Contexts
By Clint Andrews on April 22nd, 2022 in Articles, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Editorial & Opinion, Ethics, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Robotics, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
Emerging social contexts add new requirements to the knowledge that successful roboticists need. Much of this additional knowledge comes from the social sciences and humanities.
The Currency of the Attentional Economy: The Uses and Abuses of Attention in Our World
By Jordan Schoenherr on March 31st, 2022 in Articles, Editorial & Opinion, Ethics, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
By failing to attend to the source, disinformation can be stored along with information, making it difficult to distinguish the good penny from the bad penny.
Fifty Years of Good Trouble
By Clint Andrews on March 19th, 2022 in Articles, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Environment, Ethics, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, President's Message, Privacy & Security, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
SSIT members have a history of getting into “good trouble” as they encourage IEEE toward more humanistic stances on ethics, transparency, sustainability, and global equity.
The Principles of Cyber–Anarcho–Socialism
By Jeremy Pitt on March 14th, 2022 in Articles, Editorial & Opinion, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
Functional democratic governance has five fundamental preconditions: civic dignity, confluent values, epistemic diversity, accessible education, and legitimate consent.
What to Expect From IEEE 7000: The First Standard for Building Ethical Systems
By S. Spiekermann on February 21st, 2022 in Articles, Ethics, Human Impacts, Last Word, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
How can tech organizations of whatever size and industry build more ethical systems? IEEE 7000™ aims to provide organizations with “ethical specs.”
Something in Common
By Clint Andrews on February 20th, 2022 in Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, President's Message, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
IEEE SSIT might better fit the dictionary’s secondary definition of community, by having a sense of fellowship because we share common goals. If so, what are those goals?
Ideas on Optimizing the Future Soft Law Governance of AI
By Gary Marchant on February 5th, 2022 in Articles, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Editorial & Opinion, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
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.
Knowing the Unknowable: Soft Laws and Hard Decisions
By Jeremy Pitt on January 16th, 2022 in Articles, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Case Studies, Editorial & Opinion, Ethics, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
If it were possible to formulate laws involving vague predicates and adjudicate them, what would be the implications of such minimalist formulations for soft laws and even for “hard” laws? The possible implications are threefold: 1) does possibility imply desirability; 2) does possibility imply infallibility; and 3) does possibility imply accountability? The answer advanced here, to all three questions, is “no.”
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.
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?
Can Open Source Licenses Help Regulate Lethal Autonomous Weapons?
By Cheng Lin on December 1st, 2021 in Articles, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Ethics, Leading Edge, Magazine Articles, Robotics, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
Lethal autonomous weapon systems have the potential to radically transform warfare. Can open source technology help regulate their development?
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
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.