scholarly journals Adapting Ethical Sensitivity as a Construct to Study Technology Design Teams

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (GROUP) ◽  
pp. 1-29
Author(s):  
Karen L. Boyd ◽  
Katie Shilton
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Technology Development ◽  
Ethical Problem ◽  
Organizational Factors ◽  
Limited Range ◽  
Ethical Sensitivity ◽  
Design Teams ◽  
Ethical Practice ◽  
Technology Design

The design of new technologies is a cooperative task (between designers on teams, and between designers and users) with ethical import. Studying technology development teams' engagement with the ethical aspects of their work is important, but engagement with ethical issues is an unobservable construct without agreement on what observable factors comprise it. Ethical sensitivity (ES), a construct studied in medicine, accounting, and other professions, offers a framework of observable factors by operationalizing ethical engagement in workplaces into component parts. However, ES has primarily been studied as a property of individuals rather than groups and in professions outside of computing. This paper uses a corpus of 108 ES studies from 1985-2020 to adapt the framework for studies of technology design teams. From the ES corpus, we build an umbrella framework that conceptualizes ES as comprising the moment of noticing an ethical problem (recognition), the process of building understanding of the situation (particularization), and the decision about what to do (judgment). This framework makes theoretical and methodological contributions to the study of how ethics are operationalized on design teams. We find that ethical sensitivity provides useful language for studies of collaboration and communication around ethics; suggests opportunities for, and evaluations of, ethical interventions for design workplaces; and connects team members' backgrounds, educational experiences, work practices, and organizational factors to design decisions. Simultaneously, existing research in HCI and CSCW addresses the limited range of research methods currently employed in the ES literature, adding rich, contextualized data about situated and embodied ethical practice to the theory.

Common Challenges in Ethical Practice when Testing Technology with Human Participants: Analyzing the Experiences of a Local Ethics Committee

i-com ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Brandenburg ◽  
Michael Minge ◽  
Dietlind Helene Cymek
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Technology Development ◽  
Ethics Committee ◽  
Ethical Challenges ◽  
Ethical Practice ◽  
Testing Technology ◽  
Innovative Products ◽  
Ethical Approval ◽  
Human Participants

AbstractEthical aspects are of key importance in research and the development of technical systems. They play a major role when the societal impact of innovative products and new technologies is considered. However, ethics are already essential during technology development, especially when testing these technologies with human participants. The latter is becoming increasingly important when applying for project funding and for publishing peer reviewed journal papers. Responding to these needs, a local ethics committee at the Department of Psychology and Ergonomics at Technische Universität Berlin was founded in 2009. In this paper, we present an analysis of common pitfalls and blind spots that were detected by reviewers of this ethics committee. We studied the reviews of 98 applications for ethical approval. Results show that researchers (a) often lack concrete knowledge about potential ethical issues of their research and (b) that they might benefit from convenient tools to address relevant ethical challenges at early stages of product design. Based on the results of our analysis, we propose a set of six simple rules that can help to detect and to overcome most of the frequently appearing ethical issues.

New Technologies to Combat Herbicide Resistance

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 90-92
Author(s):  
Rob Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Herbicide Resistance ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Green Revolution ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Limited Range ◽  
Cultural Control ◽  
Arable Farming ◽  
The Uk

Herbicide resistance in problem weeds is now a major threat to global food production, being particularly widespread in wild grasses affecting cereal crops. In the UK, black-grass (Alopecurus myosuroides) holds the title of number one agronomic problem in winter wheat, with the loss of production associated with herbicide resistance now estimated to cost the farming sector at least £0.5 billion p.a. Black-grass presents us with many of the characteristic traits of a problem weed; being highly competitive, genetically diverse and obligately out-crossing, with a growth habit that matches winter wheat. With the UK’s limited arable crop rotations and the reliance on the repeated use of a very limited range of selective herbicides we have been continuously performing a classic Darwinian selection for resistance traits in weeds that possess great genetic diversity and plasticity in their growth habits. The result has been inevitable; the steady rise of herbicide resistance across the UK, which now affects over 2.1 million hectares of some of our best arable land. Once the resistance genie is out of the bottle, it has proven difficult to prevent its establishment and spread. With the selective herbicide option being no longer effective, the options are to revert to cultural control; changing rotations and cover crops, manual rogueing of weeds, deep ploughing and chemical mulching with total herbicides such as glyphosate. While new precision weeding technologies are being developed, their cost and scalability in arable farming remains unproven. As an agricultural scientist who has spent a working lifetime researching selective weed control, we seem to be giving up on a technology that has been a foundation stone of the green revolution. For me it begs the question, are we really unable to use modern chemical and biological technology to counter resistance? I would argue the answer to that question is most patently no; solutions are around the corner if we choose to develop them.

The Ethics of Mobile Health Technology

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S39-S39
Author(s):  
S. Galderisi ◽  
F. Caputo
Keyword(s):  
Health Equity ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Professional Associations ◽  
Health Technology ◽  
Ethical Guidelines ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Quality Healthcare ◽  
Health Technologies

IntroductionMobile health (m-health) technology has been growing rapidly in the last decades. The use of this technology represents an advantage, especially for reaching patients who otherwise would have no access to healthcare. However, many ethical issues arise from the use of m-health. Health equity, privacy policies, adequate informed consent and a competent, safe and high quality healthcare need to be guaranteed; professional standards and quality of doctor-patient relationship in the digital setting should not be lower than those set for in-person practice.AimsTo assess advantages and threats that may arise from the wide use of m-health technologies, in order to guarantee the application of the best medical practices, resulting in the highest quality healthcare.MethodsA literature search has been conducted to highlight the most pressing ethical issues emerging from the spreading of m-health technologies.ResultsFew ethical guidelines on the appropriate use of m-health have been developed to help clinicians adopt a professional conduct within digital settings. They focus on the need for professional associations to define ethical guidelines and for physicians to take care of their education and online behavior when using m-health technologies.ConclusionsThe rapid spreading of m-health technologies urges us to evaluate all ethical issues related to its use. It would be advisable to produce an ethical code for the use of these new technologies, to guarantee health equity, privacy protection, high quality doctor-patient relationships and to ensure that m-health is not chosen over traditional care for merely economic purposes.Disclosure of interestSG received honoraria or Advisory board/consulting fees from the following companies: Lundbeck, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Hoffman-La Roche, Angelini-Acraf, Otsuka, Pierre Fabre and Gedeon-Richter. All other authors have declared.

The Ethics of Testing

1995 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 5-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison Garton
Keyword(s):  
Professional Practice ◽  
Final Section ◽  
Career Guidance ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Ethical Principles ◽  
Test Administration ◽  
Test Interpretation ◽  
Ethical Practice ◽  
Test Use ◽  
Test Usage

This paper is concerned with ethical issues in the practice and administration of tests. Some broad principles related to the knowledge required for test usage are described, together with the skills necessary for competent test use. Ethical practice in relation to test users, training in testing, test administration, test interpretation and test instruments is also examined. The focus then changes to a consideration of the more general ethical principles that apply to professional practice and are equally applicable to testing. A final section examines the relevance of these issues for career guidance practitioners and also some recent professional developments that will encourage ethical practice in testing.

scholarly journals FORECASTING OF BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT IN ECONOMY: ACCOUNTING POINT OF VIEW

2019 ◽  
pp. 37-44
Author(s):  
L. Shkulipa
Keyword(s):  
Big Data ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Technology Development ◽  
Local Economy ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
Hype Cycle ◽  
Predictive Assessment ◽  
Further Development

In the article the importance of blockchain technology in the economy and predicting its development from the accounting point of view was investigated. The methods used in the study are based on the analysis of literature related to disclosure issues and a description of existing blockchain claims on the world stage. On the basis of this, a predictive assessment of the considered results for the further development of blockchain technology in the economy, its impact on accounting and the profession of accountant was made. The findings include the positive and negative effects of blockchain technology on the medical and banking sectors, information technology, the financial sector, and accounting. The blockchain in the hype cycle was considered as a phenomenon that all new technologies undergo before stable existing or disappearing. Based on the consideration of the most famous blockchain projects with the combination of Big Data, the estimation of the development technologies of Blockchain and Big Data in finance was discussed. This study suggests to consider blockchain technology as (1) a new way of sending and processing invoices, documents, contracts, and payments, reducing errors, costs and transaction time; (2) a path to financial equality through affordability; (3) investments in the local economy so that developing countries can grow significantly; (4) updating the currency market and the international monetary and financial transaction system; (5) a major breakthrough in the economy together with the Big Data technology.

scholarly journals THE WORLD DEVELOPMENT OF THE DIGITAL ECONOMY: THE MAIN DEVELOPMENT STRATAGEMS

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-96
Author(s):  
Olena Taranukha
Keyword(s):  
Business Model ◽  
Business Models ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Technology Development ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Digital Economy ◽  
The Other ◽  
Innovative Solutions ◽  
The World ◽  
New Business

The digital economy allows to compose the new business models, digital platforms and services, which create new types of economic activity, as well as the transformation of traditional industries. Due to the industries transformation to the digital economy there is the transformation of the world economy, or rather the economy itself is being digitized The purpose of the paper is to reveal the essence and features of the digital economy formation and to consider what significant transformations will take place in the world by the analysis of major trends in the near future. Accumulating all the concepts, we can say that the digital economy is the rather complex term, but we can assume that its development is based on the key components According to forecast estimates, the most advanced retail companies will begin implementing the service of virtual and voice search of goods by 2022. This will require from the company the better understanding of the consumers wishes, their interests and intentions. Consider the main technological development trends for 2020-2025 based on the data of the major consulting agencies and the consulting company "Cartner" Figure 2 shows the forecast curve of the new technologies development. Innovative development triggers that will actively influence the technology development include the following: the Authenticated Provenance, Low-Cost Single Board Computers at the Edge, Self-Supervised Learning, BMI (Brain Machine Interface), active development of "Packaged Business Capabilities" services, Digital Twin of the Person and Composible Enterprises. The peak of disappointments will be Social Distancing Technologies and Secure Access Service. The source of expectations will be the development of Carbon-Based transistors technology and Human digital Ontologies. The formation of a productivity platform will be based on trends in Self-Development and Self-Education. Digital IT trends grow, evolve and acquire new properties of social technologies that can influence the structure of the community, form dependencies and demand. Therefore, companies, large corporations and government need to move to more flexible composite business architectures. The modular business model is based on four basic principles: modularity, efficiency, continuous improvement and adaptive innovation. This business model allows to move from rigid traditional planning to a flexible response to rapidly changing business needs. In general, it creates opportunities for innovative approaches, reduces costs and improves partnerships. It is important to pay attention to the other technologies in the new business model such as bundled business services, data factories, private 5G networks and embedded artificial intelligence. Thus, as a result of the research it is proved that the digital world is a completely new order of life, which requires to change our thinking. The person should be always focused on the new technologies and methods in order the enterprises remain competitive and constantly developed, it will promote the economy development and the growth of well-being of the society. So, taking into account the global trends in technology development, Ukraine has to adapt to the new standards quickly and implement innovative solutions for the economic development. The digitalization of the economy, on the one hand, is the key to economic success, on the other hand, it is the driving force in the conditions of the conceptual understanding of the digital economy essence. The growth of the quality and innovation level of domestic goods and services should provide not only sustainable economic growth, but also competitive advantages with further integration into the EU. At the same time, there is the relevant need of the scientific and technological research, the formation of a certain business ("digital") culture, the implementation of smart city ideas in Ukraine based on the development of local communities and the emergence of new initiatives and proposals for innovative solutions.

scholarly journals Synergy of Family Business and Social Entrepreneurship: Problems of Law, Economics and Technology Development

2021 ◽  
Vol 110 ◽  
pp. 01016
Author(s):  
Anatoly N. Levushkin ◽  
Yana S. Grishina ◽  
Olga G. Bartkova ◽  
Tatyana V. Savina
Keyword(s):  
Family Business ◽  
Social Entrepreneurship ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Technology Development ◽  
Legal Regulation ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Scientific Methods ◽  
Economic Relations ◽  
Family Enterprise ◽  
General Scientific

During the economic instability, crisis processes in economic relations, and the growing prospects of a new “step” of the global economic crisis, theoretical and applied research in the field of legal support for strengthening and supporting economic development, small and medium-sized businesses, and digital technologies in the Russian Federation plays a great role. The purpose of the study: A legal study of the current legislation in order to apply the concept of synergy of family business and social entrepreneurship for the effective implementation of economic processes and solving technological problems, identify the problems of family business development in the new economic realities and propose some ways to solve them at the legislative level. The object of the study is a set of economic, entrepreneurial, civil-legal relations that arise in the implementation of family business and social entrepreneurship in modern economic realities based on new technologies. Methods: General scientific and private scientific methods of scientific cognition were used in the study: systematic, historical, logical, comparative-legal, formal-legal, and others. Novelty: It is proved that social entrepreneurship and family business should be a system-forming link in economic relations, linking the state with small and medium-sized businesses. The introduction of such form of business (social and family entrepreneurship) should eliminate many economic problems and gaps in the legal regulation of issues that arise while conducting economic activities by family members. The necessity of separating social entrepreneurship and family business into a separate economic and legal category is justified, and the expediency of consolidating the concept of social entrepreneurship and family enterprise at the federal level is proved.

scholarly journals A Strategy for Technology Development for Semi-Arid Sub-Saharan Africa

1998 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 157-161
Author(s):  
John H. Sanders ◽  
Barry I. Shapiro ◽  
Sunder Ramaswamy
Keyword(s):  
Development Strategy ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Technology Development ◽  
Organic Fertilizer ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Inorganic Fertilizers ◽  
Strategy Evaluation ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Semi Arid

This article proposes a strategy for agricultural technology development for semi-arid West Africa. The strategy evaluation consists of two aspects: a) a review of the successes in the region; and b) analysis with mathematical programming of the potential impacts and constraints to various new technologies tested in the region. The technology development strategy indicates how further productivity gains can be made by responding to the two principal constraints of water availability and soil fertility. These constraints must be simultaneously resolved but the strategy needs to be adapted for different soil characteristics and economic environments. The major emphasis is on the importance of the rapid introduction of inorganic fertilizers combined with techniques to increase water availability; organic and inorganic fertilizers need to be considered complements in the semi-arid regions. Farmers are already introducing labour intensive variations of these techniques in the most degraded regions. The policy concern is to encourage government policymakers to put a high priority on fertilizer and increase the availability of inorganic fertilizer while research efforts continue to develop improved methods for complementary use of organic fertilizer.

scholarly journals Sustainable exposure prevention through innovative detection and remediation technologies from the NIEHS Superfund Research Program

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 35-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather F. Henry ◽  
William A. Suk
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Primary Prevention ◽  
Exposure Assessment ◽  
Research Program ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Materials Science ◽  
Technology Development ◽  
Hazardous Substances ◽  
Toxicity Screening

Abstract Innovative devices and tools for exposure assessment and remediation play an integral role in preventing exposure to hazardous substances. New solutions for detecting and remediating organic, inorganic, and mixtures of contaminants can improve public health as a means of primary prevention. Using a public health prevention model, detection and remediation technologies contribute to primary prevention as tools to identify areas of high risk (e.g. contamination hotspots), to recognize hazards (bioassay tests), and to prevent exposure through contaminant cleanups. Primary prevention success is ultimately governed by the widespread acceptance of the prevention tool. And, in like fashion, detection and remediation technologies must convey technical and sustainability advantages to be adopted for use. Hence, sustainability – economic, environmental, and societal – drives innovation in detection and remediation technology. The National Institute of Health (NIH) National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Superfund Research Program (SRP) is mandated to advance innovative detection, remediation, and toxicity screening technology development through grants to universities and small businesses. SRP recognizes the importance of fast, accurate, robust, and advanced detection technologies that allow for portable real-time, on-site characterization, monitoring, and assessment of contaminant concentration and/or toxicity. Advances in non-targeted screening, biological-based assays, passive sampling devices (PSDs), sophisticated modeling approaches, and precision-based analytical tools are making it easier to quickly identify hazardous “hotspots” and, therefore, prevent exposures. Innovation in sustainable remediation uses a variety of approaches: in situ remediation; harnessing the natural catalytic properties of biological processes (such as bioremediation and phytotechnologies); and application of novel materials science (such as nanotechnology, advanced membranes, new carbon materials, and materials reuse). Collectively, the investment in new technologies shows promise to reduce the amount and toxicity of hazardous substances in the environment. This manuscript highlights SRP funded innovative devices and tools for exposure assessment and remediation of organic, inorganic, and mixtures of contaminants with a particular focus on sustainable technologies.

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