Slow Tech: a quest for good, clean and fair ICT

Abstract

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Can we say anything ethical about Digital Religion? Philosophical and methodological considerations

“…Vallor then argues that these analyses can be used in turn to guide design of new sorts of SNSs that better serve the aims of acquiring and practicing such virtues (2010: 168f.). Vallor thereby represents a growing number of ethicists and designers arguing for normatively-driven approaches to design in ICTs -for example, under rubrics such as "human-centered ICT," "Fair ICT," and "slow tech" (e.g., Patrignani & Whitehouse, 2014). These developments directly intersect with, and may offer new insights to, the thematic focus in Digital Religion on how technologies shape religion and vice-versa, especially as this research focuses on the negotiations between "the beliefs, discourse and tradition of a given religious group" and new technologies and their uses (Campbell & Lövheim, 2011: 1088.…”

On the Difficult Task of Teaching Computer Ethics to Engineers

“…What tools could be introduced in these computer ethics classes for engineers? It is proposed a simple methodology based on case-based analysis, complex systems, and Slow Tech (Patrignani & Whitehouse, 2014). Then some preliminary results from the experiences of computer ethics courses with PhD students in engineering faculties are described.…”

Teaching smart phone ethics

“…Overall, this implies moving away from paradigms of ICT design which are founded on disposability, built-in obsolescence and the upgrade culture of "fast tech" towards new kinds of "slow tech" design which are "clean", "good" "fair" and "open" [30]. "Fair" in terms of ensuring that working conditions throughout the supply chain are humane and non-exploitative; "good" in helping people find an appropriate balance between work time, free time and leisure; "open" through innovation and development founded on openly defined standards and architectures which others can adapt and freely improve upon; "slow" in terms of slowing down the ICT lifecycle and turnover of devices through a greater focus on modular products which enable components, rather than whole devices, to be replaced, and a greater emphasis on repair and reuse.…”

“…These approaches provide a way of incorporating principles of autonomy and transparency into each stage of the development lifecycle. ICT development, in this sense, should not just be the result of technology "push," but also participation and involvement of users and the broader communities of which they are a part [30].…”