From January 2015

Visual Artifact

Ethics and digital technologies

final book cover

It started with designing my own book cover, which was really difficult as I wanted to make it too wordy, and finding images that expressed my feelings took some time.

And from there I wanted to create a collection of some of the debates that are currently happening around the world.  And try to show how different problems are being approached. I realised that different countries are experiencing the same problems but are at different stages, for example, drone technology is more apparent in Australia and America than in Europe, hence they are beginning to legislate for them.  Whereas in the UK, it seems to be the view that government needs to lead the way in their own use of technologies and become models of good practice.  The debate is already starting in education, for example, with electronic assessment and how to make it ‘fair’.

But, for me, the really interesting topic is when new technologies become the subject of considered ethical discussion.  At the development stage by engineers and inventors? Or, at the end stage by users? What do you think?

 

Comment on FROM ROBOTS TO SENTIENT MACHINES by jdarling

Interesting video; robots have been part of human imaginings for so long and now they are becoming reality.
Some of them really make me shudder though. The childlike one in particular. For me, this falls below the line of the ‘uncanny valley’ (http://ift.tt/f36xSY). What do you think? Do any of them make you feel uncomfortable? Which ones?

from Comments for PJ’s EDC blog http://ift.tt/169vMCn
via IFTTT

Have you heard ‘Drone Ships’ by BBC World Service Radio on #SoundCloud?

Have you heard ‘Drone Ships’ by BBC World Service Radio on #SoundCloud?  #mscedc

I have included this clip as I thought it demonstrated a potential use for technology that could save human lives. Although, there is evidence that implies that shipping is becoming safer anyway.  International Shipping Facts and Figures – Information Resources on Trade, Safety, Security, Environment.

It also discusses the problem of international regulations that will need rewriting to meet the needs of future technology. And explains that human labour will be removed from the ships to the docks.

“The type of jobs will be new. Society is evolving all of the time. And this is just the natural continuation of making one part of society more efficient.”

OpenStax digital textbooks learn as you learn

OpenStax digital textbooks learn as you learn | Electronics Weekly http://t.co/nNVttMOUqQ via @sharethis #mscedc

My first reaction to this was to wonder how an ebook can ascertain your interest level / prior understanding etc and then deliver the level of material that is best suited to your learning needs, but if they are using algorithms similar to Facebook /Google then this has been proven to work already.  FB / Google has been developing for years and has millions of users; but can OpenStax be as successful with it’s relatively few users.

How will they avoid the ‘filter bubble’ trap? One of the advantages of being a student in a classroom with a teacher and peers is that they are exposed to ideas / material that they may not otherwise discover; will these OpenStax books be programmed to replicate this.