Adding Values to the Digital Transformation

September 2017

Next Generation Socio-Technical Systems

The next generation of socio-technical system will be underpinned by the most advanced and potentially most “intelligent” technology so far invented. But the “socio” aspects of these systems, involving human behavior, non-deterministic decision making and interactions, complex social structures, and above all values, are essentially unchanged, except to the extent that they are irrevocably changed by the technology itself. Indeed, some have suggested that the debate over the driverless car is just a preliminary skirmish in the long-term battle for the future of humanity, i.e, what does complete automation of manual tasks imply for full time employment and the welfare state and its associated values. These values include a sense of belonging, identification with an organization, pride in ones work, social interaction and opinion dissemination, and self-actualization.

Free Online Content

• We Need to Talk about the Web by Martin Stewart-Weeks Posted in: Commentary, Health & Medical, Magazine Articles, Societal Impact - The conversation about "Web Science" is becoming more urgent and more central to the future of the planet and the… ...  Read More
• BOOK REVIEW: Facist Pigs by Nicholas G. Evans Posted in: Book Reviews, Magazine Articles, Societal Impact - In today's world of climate denial and vaccine skepticism, one would be forgiven for assuming that an anti-intellectual, anti-expertise, anti-truth… ...  Read More
• Were We “Brave” @Braveconvos #Braveconversations? by Anni Rowland-Campbell Posted in: Editorial & Opinion, Magazine Articles, Societal Impact - At Brave Conversations we tried to do something different -- not to have a conventional conference where everyone hid behind their professional… ...  Read More
• LETTER: Licensing Engineering Professionals by Guest Author Posted in: Magazine Articles, Societal Impact - Licensing of Engineering Professionals: Is there any validity to this practice? The Education Department of the State of New York… ...  Read More
• Retreat to Move Forward : Alleviating Allostatic Load for the Brave by Christine Perakslis Posted in: Human Impacts, Last Word, Magazine Articles, Societal Impact - We need our brains to adapt advantageously for ingenious design and development, especially as the time between stimulus and response… ...  Read More
• Biometric Surveillance and the Right to Privacy by Angus Willoughby Posted in: Commentary, Ethics, Magazine Articles, Privacy & Security - Using biometric technology to identify and monitor people raises human rights concerns. In particular, biometrics are often associated with intrusions… ...  Read More
• The Next Generation of Socio-Technical Systems by Steghofer Posted in: Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Societal Impact - The next generation of socio-technical system can be seen as a kind of “focal point” for the convergence of a… ...  Read More
• Operationalizing SSIT’s 5 Pillars: Pillar 2: Ethics, Human Values and Technology by Paul Cunningham Posted in: Ethics, Magazine Articles, President's Message - Pillar 2 is focused on professional and research ethics, ethics in the development of technologies, ethics in the context of… ...  Read More
• On Country by Alexander Hayes Posted in: Editorial & Opinion, Magazine Articles, Robotics, Societal Impact - Mining has had an impact on many Aboriginal communities in Australia. As we move to a mining sector where dump trucks,… ...  Read More
• Tragedy of the Digital Commons: Amplified Zombies by Renato Iannella Posted in: Editorial & Opinion, Magazine Articles, Societal Impact - There is an unshakable faith in our industry that we can do anything and that everything we do must be… ...  Read More

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