scholarly journals How to Write Ethical User Stories? Impacts of the ECCOLA Method

2021 ◽  
pp. 36-52
Author(s):  
Erika Halme ◽  
Ville Vakkuri ◽  
Joni Kultanen ◽  
Marianna Jantunen ◽  
Kai-Kristian Kemell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Web Applications ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Agile Development ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Ethical Guidelines ◽  
User Stories ◽  
Ai Ethics ◽  
High Level ◽  
Agile Software ◽  
Student Projects

AbstractArtificial Intelligence (AI) systems are increasing in significance within software services. Unfortunately, these systems are not flawless. Their faults, failures and other systemic issues have emphasized the urgency for consideration of ethical standards and practices in AI engineering. Despite the growing number of studies in AI ethics, comparatively little attention has been placed on how ethical issues can be mitigated in software engineering (SE) practice. Currently understanding is lacking regarding the provision of useful tools that can help companies transform high-level ethical guidelines for AI ethics into the actual workflow of developers. In this paper, we explore the idea of using user stories to transform abstract ethical requirements into tangible outcomes in Agile software development. We tested this idea by studying master’s level student projects (15 teams) developing web applications for a real industrial client over the course of five iterations. These projects resulted in 250+ user stories that were analyzed for the purposes of this paper. The teams were divided into two groups: half of the teams worked using the ECCOLA method for AI ethics in SE, while the other half, a control group, was used to compare the effectiveness of ECCOLA. Both teams were tasked with writing user stories to formulate customer needs into system requirements. Based on the data, we discuss the effectiveness of ECCOLA, and Primary Empirical Contributions (PECs) from formulating ethical user stories in Agile development.

scholarly journals A Hybrid Effort Estimation Technique for Agile Software Development (HEETAD)

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Software Development ◽  
Agile Development ◽  
Software Project ◽  
Hybrid Technique ◽  
Effort Estimation ◽  
Software Effort Estimation ◽  
User Stories ◽  
Development Costs ◽  
Time Required ◽  
Agile Software

Software development becomes a complex process when the software grows in size or complexity making it difficult to estimate usage of resources or development costs. Software effort estimation is that part of development which helps in assessing resource prior to development. An estimate is a quantified evaluation of the effort necessary to carry out a given development task and most often expressed in terms of durations. Effort estimation is done with an intent to aggregate individual estimates and obtain the overall duration, effort or cost of a software project. The workforce is measured as effort and the total time required is defined for a task in effort estimations which is usually expressed in units (Man-day, Man-month, and Man-year). Most other factors like cost or total time required to developed software are dependent on these estimations. Further, Algorithms used for estimating software developments efforts, may also be imprecise. Thus, Effort estimations plays an important part of software development in planning and monitoring projects. Agile methodology is relatively a new set of practices in software development. Agile estimations are based on many factors. Improperly recorded information from Agile methods can result in erratic estimations thus creating an impending need for precise effort estimations. It is difficult to find a single technique which can suit all conditions. Hence, this paper attempts to estimate agile development efforts by using a hybrid technique based on function points and user stories. Results of the proposed technique demonstrate that the arrived effort estimations based on user stories are efficient.

Perspectives and Approaches in AI Ethics

2020 ◽  
pp. 606-624
Author(s):  
Danit Gal
Keyword(s):  
Popular Culture ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Ethical Guidelines ◽  
Culture Experiment ◽  
South Korean ◽  
Local Practices ◽  
Chinese Policy ◽  
Ai Ethics ◽  
And Robotics

This chapter focuses on Chinese, Japanese, and South Korean perspectives on and approaches to AI and robots, which can be tools and partners in the AI ethics debate. Each country, in its own way, debates its movement across the tool-partner spectrum. To date, South Korean policy makes a stand against partner AI and robots, while popular culture explores the idea. Chinese policy is headed in the direction of a tool-oriented AI and robotics ethical guidelines, while local practices and culture experiment with the idea of physical and spiritual partnership. Meanwhile, Japan’s social principles are also moving in the tool direction, but its society actively seeks and creates partner-like AI and robots. The chapter then considers two cross-cutting AI and robotics-related ethical issues: the Anthropomorphized Tools Paradox and female objectification. These issues underscore the question of “antisocial” technology. It is clear that both the Anthropomorphized Tools Paradox and female objectification in technology fall under “antisocial” development.

Ethical Issues Relevant to the Assessment of Suicide Risk in Nonclinical Research Settings

Crisis ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn M. Wilson ◽  
Bruce K. Christensen
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Current Paper ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Ethical Guidelines ◽  
Schizotypal Personality ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Genetic Features ◽  
Conducting Research

Background: Our laboratory recently confronted this issue while conducting research with undergraduate students at the University of Waterloo (UW). Although our main objective was to examine cognitive and genetic features of individuals with schizotypal personality disorder (SPD), the study protocol also entailed the completion of various self-report measures to identify participants deemed at increased risk for suicide. Aims and Methods: This paper seeks to review and discuss the relevant ethical guidelines and legislation that bear upon a psychologist’s obligation to further assess and intervene when research participants reveal that they are at increased risk for suicide. Results and Conclusions: In the current paper we argue that psychologists are ethically impelled to assess and appropriately intervene in cases of suicide risk, even when such risk is revealed within a research context. We also discuss how any such obligation may potentially be modulated by the research participant’s expectations of the role of a psychologist, within such a context. Although the focus of the current paper is on the ethical obligations of psychologists, specifically those practicing within Canada, the relevance of this paper extends to all regulated health professionals conducting research in nonclinical settings.

DESIGNING E-LEARNING RESOURCES FOR TEACHING MATHEMATICS IN PRIMARY SCHOOL WITH ADOBE FLASH AND HTML5 SYSTEMS

2018 ◽  
pp. 49-57
Author(s):  
N. A. Gluzman
Keyword(s):  
Primary School ◽  
Web Applications ◽  
Special Importance ◽  
Learning Resources ◽  
Multimedia Presentations ◽  
Adobe Flash ◽  
E Learning ◽  
High Level ◽  
And Training ◽  
Training Practice

In the modern educational space regarding the realities of the information society special importance is attached to issues related to the provision of a high level of informatization of education, which implies teachers’ mastering the necessary competencies and the ability to introduce e-learning resources into educational and training practice. Adobe Flash as one of the platforms for creating web applications and multimedia presentations enjoys greatest popularity with users including teachers. However, in connection with the announcement of discontinuing Adobe Flash support in 2020, the issue of choosing an analog to create web applications and presentations for use in teaching purposes is becoming particularly relevant. The article provides a comprehensive analysis of developing electronic educational resources by teachers using Adobe Flash and HTML5 for teaching math in primary school.

ANTICYTOKINE ACTIVITY OF THE PROTOZOA BLASTOCYSTIS SPP

2020 ◽  
pp. 44-48
Author(s):  
Bugero N.V. ◽  
Ilyina N.A. ◽  
Aleksandrova S.M.
Keyword(s):  
Gastrointestinal Tract ◽  
Gastrointestinal Diseases ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Ulcer Disease ◽  
Cytokine Balance ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Blastocystis Spp ◽  
High Level ◽  
Eukaryotic Organisms ◽  
High Degree

In addition to the classical pathogens, which are well understood and well identified, new pathogens with the potential to spread epidemiologically are being identified. Some of these little-known organisms are the simplest Blastocystis spp. blastocystostosis. The clinical significance of Blastocystis spp. and its pathogenicity are still under discussion. This parasite belongs to a group of single-celled eukaryotic organisms living in the colon of the human intestine. Blastocystis spp. is known to be found both in people with reduced immune status and in individuals without any clinical manifestation. It has been established that a sufficiently high degree of invasiveness is observed in persons with gastrointestinal tract diseases, dermatosis, allergic reactions, in patients with carriers of the human immunodeficiency virus, etc. Possessing persistence factors, protozoa blastocysts contribute to the inactivation of host defensive mechanisms, providing a stable anthogonistic effect. In recent years, many works have been devoted to the characteristics of the persistent properties of Blastocystis spr., however, individual properties of blastocysts, in particular, anticytokine activity (ACA), have not yet been studied. In this regard, the work studied the anticytokine activity of microorganisms isolated from healthy subjects and patients with gastrointestinal tract diseases. A high prevalence of the studied characteristic in the subjects was shown. The expression of anticytokine activity in the obtained isolates of blastocysts was the highest in the group of persons with gastric ulcer disease, which decreased in the order of duodenal ulcer, chronic cholecystitis, chronic gastritis, etc. The data obtained in this work on the high level of ACA expression in blastocyst isolates obtained from individuals with gastrointestinal diseases as compared with the control group enables to conclude that their exometabolites may influence the local cytokine balance [1], which supports the inflammatory process.

IDENTIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT OF RISK FACTORS ROLE IN MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION DEVELOPMENT

2019 ◽  
Vol 72 (5) ◽  
pp. 779-783
Author(s):  
Victor A. Ognev ◽  
Anna A. Podpriadova ◽  
Anna V. Lisova
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Cardiovascular System ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Biological Factors ◽  
Prevention And Treatment ◽  
High Level ◽  
Social Importance ◽  
The Impact

Introduction:The high level of morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease is largely due toinsufficient influence on the main risk factors that contribute to the development of myocardial infarction.Therefore, a detailed study and assessment of risk factors is among the most important problems of medical and social importance. The aim: To study and evaluate the impact of biological, social and hygienic, social and economic, psychological, natural and climatic risk factors on the development of myocardial infarction. Materials and methods: A sociological survey was conducted in 500 people aged 34 to 85. They were divided into two groups. The main group consisted of 310 patients with myocardial infarction. The control group consisted of 190 practically healthy people, identical by age, gender and other parameters, without diseases of the cardiovascular system. Results: It was defined that 30 factors have a significant impact on the development of myocardial infarction.Data analysis revealed that the leading risk factors for myocardial infarction were biological and socio-hygienic. The main biological factors were: hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. The man socio-hygienic factor was smoking. Conclusions: Identification of risk factors provides new opportunities for the development of more effective approaches for the prevention and treatment of myocardial infarction.

Onchocerciasis in Osse, Ondo State, Nigeria: Effectiveness of Motivational Strategies in Sustaining Compliance with Community Ivermectin Therapy

2002 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-189
Author(s):  
O. U. Manafa ◽  
T. S. Awolola ◽  
A. N. Isamah
Keyword(s):  
Community Intervention ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Participant Satisfaction ◽  
Attitudes And Practices ◽  
Ondo State ◽  
Set Up ◽  
High Level ◽  
Knowledge Attitudes And Practices

A study in human Onchocerciasis was undertaken in four endemic communities in Ondo State, Nigeria. In-depth interviews were conducted on peoples' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding Onchocerciasis aetiology, treatment, prevention, and symptoms. These were complemented by key informant interviews and focus group discussions. Based on this information, an educational program was set up which included the training of selected villagers (motivators) and community intervention organized by these motivators. Evaluation used a control group where intervention was focused on other health problems in the area. Onchocerciasis education took place only with the intervention group. At the start of the project, peoples' knowledge about Onchocerciasis, its cause, treatment, prevention, and symptoms were varied and only a small proportion could link the bite of the blackfly to Onchocerciasis. The educational intervention achieved a high level of participant satisfaction which was expressed in continuous attendance at workshops and keeping appointments with motivators. The intervention helped to bring a significant improvement in the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of the respondents. The knowledge of Onchocerciasis aetiology increased to 79.8 percent, 71.5 percent, and 74 percent from 48.5 percent, 48.7 percent, 34 percent, and 45 percent pre-intervention in the four study areas used. The project demonstrated that a community-based health education can be effective in Onchocerciasis control.

The Oxford Handbook of Ethics of AI

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Data Driven ◽  
International Human Rights Law ◽  
Human Knowledge ◽  
Human Rights Law ◽  
Ai Ethics ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Control Complex

This book explores the intertwining domains of artificial intelligence (AI) and ethics—two highly divergent fields which at first seem to have nothing to do with one another. AI is a collection of computational methods for studying human knowledge, learning, and behavior, including by building agents able to know, learn, and behave. Ethics is a body of human knowledge—far from completely understood—that helps agents (humans today, but perhaps eventually robots and other AIs) decide how they and others should behave. Despite these differences, however, the rapid development in AI technology today has led to a growing number of ethical issues in a multitude of fields, ranging from disciplines as far-reaching as international human rights law to issues as intimate as personal identity and sexuality. In fact, the number and variety of topics in this volume illustrate the width, diversity of content, and at times exasperating vagueness of the boundaries of “AI Ethics” as a domain of inquiry. Within this discourse, the book points to the capacity of sociotechnical systems that utilize data-driven algorithms to classify, to make decisions, and to control complex systems. Given the wide-reaching and often intimate impact these AI systems have on daily human lives, this volume attempts to address the increasingly complicated relations between humanity and artificial intelligence. It considers not only how humanity must conduct themselves toward AI but also how AI must behave toward humanity.

Europe

2020 ◽  
pp. 649-666
Author(s):  
Andrea Renda
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Policy Framework ◽  
Expert Group ◽  
Ethical Guidelines ◽  
Ethical Implications ◽  
Strong Focus ◽  
Ethics Guidelines ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
High Level

This chapter assesses Europe’s efforts in developing a full-fledged strategy on the human and ethical implications of artificial intelligence (AI). The strong focus on ethics in the European Union’s AI strategy should be seen in the context of an overall strategy that aims at protecting citizens and civil society from abuses of digital technology but also as part of a competitiveness-oriented strategy aimed at raising the standards for access to Europe’s wealthy Single Market. In this context, one of the most peculiar steps in the European Union’s strategy was the creation of an independent High-Level Expert Group on AI (AI HLEG), accompanied by the launch of an AI Alliance, which quickly attracted several hundred participants. The AI HLEG, a multistakeholder group including fifty-two experts, was tasked with the definition of Ethics Guidelines as well as with the formulation of “Policy and Investment Recommendations.” With the advice of the AI HLEG, the European Commission put forward ethical guidelines for Trustworthy AI—which are now paving the way for a comprehensive, risk-based policy framework.

scholarly journals Benefit of a pharmacist-led intervention for medication management of renal transplant patients: a controlled before-and-after study

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 204062232110052
Author(s):  
Jeremy Chambord ◽  
Lionel Couzi ◽  
Pierre Merville ◽  
Karine Moreau ◽  
Fabien Xuereb ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medication Adherence ◽  
Immunosuppressive Therapy ◽  
Medication Management ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Knowledge Score ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Patient Knowledge ◽  
Transplant Patients ◽  
Before And After ◽  
High Level

Aims: To assess the effect of a pharmacist-led intervention, using Barrows cards method, during the first year after renal transplantation, on patient knowledge about their treatment, medication adherence and exposure to treatment in a French cohort. Methods: We conducted a before-and-after comparative study between two groups of patients: those who benefited from a complementary pharmacist-led intervention [intervention group (IG), n = 44] versus those who did not [control group (CG), n = 48]. The pharmacist-led intervention consisted of a behavioral and educational interview at the first visit (visit 1). The intervention was assessed 4 months later at the second visit (visit 2), using the following endpoints: treatment knowledge, medication adherence [proportion of days covered (PDC) by immunosuppressive therapy] and tacrolimus exposure. Results: At visit 2, IG patients achieved a significantly higher knowledge score than CG patients (83.3% versus 72.2%, p = 0.001). We did not find any differences in treatment exposure or medication adherence; however, the intervention tended to reduce the proportion of non-adherent patients with low knowledge scores. Using the PDC by immunosuppressive therapy, we identified 10 non-adherent patients (10.9%) at visit 1 and six at visit 2. Conclusions: Our intervention showed a positive effect on patient knowledge about their treatment. However, our results did not show any improvement in overall medication adherence, which was likely to be because of the initially high level of adherence in our study population. Nevertheless, the intervention appears to have improved adherence in non-adherent patients with low knowledge scores.

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