Future vision

Simon Rogerson, Prof. Bernd Carsten Stahl ,Prof. Charles
2015 Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society  
Purpose This paper reviews the world of ICT from its early days to the near future. The aim is to consider how successfully academia, industry and government have worked together in delivering ethically acceptable ICT which is accessible to those who might benefit from such advances. The paper concludes with suggestions of a fresh approach for the future. Design/methodology/approach The paper draws upon evidence from the history of computers, funded research projects, professional bodies in the
more » ... field, the ETHICOMP conference series and reported ICT disasters. The author uses his experience as both an ICT practitioner and an academic in the ICT ethics field to synthesise the evidence so providing a foundation on which to build an outline global action plan. Finding The paper lays out the findings that there has been much detailed observation and analysis of the ethical challenges surrounding ICT but the transformation of this into widespread practical positive action remains elusive. It explores why progress has been difficult. Originality/value This review of the interconnecting landscapes of practical ICT, funded research and the ICT ethics community is new. The attempt to demonstrate what progress has been made and to identify the underlying factors which influence progress are valuable to future generations working in this area. The concluding suggestions for action offer a starting point for entering the next phase of ICT ethics. 1 The Japanese Haiku is a way of looking at the world and seeing something deeper. In English a haiku poem consists of three lines, with the first and last line having 5 syllables, and the middle line has 7 syllables. The use of punctuation such as a dash divides the poem and prompts the reader to reflect on the relationship between the two parts. The inclusion of three Haiku poems in this paper serves to illustrate the value of crossdisciplinarity in analysing situations. Readers of this paper are encouraged to reflect on the deeper meaning of each haiku and use this in their Future Vision. Together the three Haikus form a poem entitled Technological Dependency (Rogerson, 2015) .
doi:10.1108/jices-05-2015-0011 fatcat:pa7lu5i2ijffnlnaxj4xawajfi