Greg Adamson | University of Melbourne (original) (raw)
Papers by Greg Adamson
Information, Communication & Society, 2016
Information Communication Society, 2009
The editors of this book present this in four scenarios. Such an approach will be known to anyone... more The editors of this book present this in four scenarios. Such an approach will be known to anyone who has watched an information technology sales pitch: the 5 or 10 min informercial that shows people going about their lives and finding that everything they need is miraculously ...
Australian Journal of Telecommunications and the Digital Economy, 2016
Proceedings of the IEEE, 2015
The 21st century is witnessing unprecedented automation in many areas of life. As a result, tasks... more The 21st century is witnessing unprecedented automation in many areas of life. As a result, tasks previously undertaken by a person are now done by a machine. Humans who previously undertook these tasks brought particular views and approaches to each task. These or alternative views or approaches are now embodied in the machine. Rather than entirely removing humans from the process, however, replacement of human by machine has meant that the direct engagement of a person in a task has been replaced by the indirect engagement of the technologist who creates the machine. Among other things this has meant that the ethical responsibilities of the original human operator have devolved to the technologist. This raises questions of substantive ethics, and the responsibility of the technologist, including as " whistle-blower ". This paper examines three areas of technology development which highlight the growing ethical responsibility of technologists: the automation of work; the mechanization of humans; and autonomous warfare. The three areas selected have implications today, even in an early stage of development. Soon the responsibilities these technologies engender will confront technologists in their professional life.
2014 IEEE Conference on Norbert Wiener in the 21st Century (21CW), 2014
Norbert Wiener was interested in the social implications of technology and in particular in the h... more Norbert Wiener was interested in the social implications of technology and in particular in the historical, environmental, humanitarian, developmental, ethical implications and issues of discrimination. This research examines his writings for his views on these topics. It also examines the notion that Wiener's work, including his work on cybernetics, was anti-humanistic and militaristic. It identifies themes in the development of his ideas on the topics, including his life experiences, and relates to these to his exhortation to follow interesting problems.
The interdisciplinarity of Cybernetics has been both its strength and its weakness: a strength in... more The interdisciplinarity of Cybernetics has been both its strength and its weakness: a strength in that it enabled an originality of thought and a breadth of application not possible within conventional scholarly structures, but a weakness in that it never truly found a home that might institutionalise it, and from which it might reach out to the established disciplines. Its peripatetic constituents and porous, shifting borders makes the direct influence of Cybernetics on contemporary philosophies of technology difficult to establish, though some direct lines of influence can be traced. But any presence of parallels, or overlaps, provides circumstantial evidence of prescient status, if not influence, and such status is indicative of the intellectual significance of Cybernetics, regardless of influence. In this paper we identify key characteristics of Cybernetics that find parallels in contemporary philosophies of technology. These imbrications include: the constructed ontology of beings (and their performances) through information flows; beings as heterogeneous assemblages; the immaterial materiality of being; being and performing as reflexive, recursive and relational; beings seeking homeostasis; and the universality of all of the above.
Is the effort of engineers to advance technology for social benefit worthwhile? One widely accept... more Is the effort of engineers to advance technology for social benefit worthwhile? One widely accepted definition of social benefit, the UN Declaration of Human Rights, includes several rights that depend to a greater or lesser extent on technology. On the face of it this validates the effort of engineers. Yet prominent economist Friedrich Hayek queried the very concept of social benefit. This gap between the engineering and economic perspectives is not widely recognized. While initially neutral on the purpose of economic activity, economist Michael Porter has taken a position supporting social benefit.
For seven months from late 1955, Norbert Wiener (1894-1964) worked at the Indian Statistical Inst... more For seven months from late 1955, Norbert Wiener (1894-1964) worked at the Indian Statistical Institute at the invitation of Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis (1893-1972). Mahalanobis had achieved a remarkable feat, the creation of a world class institution within a decade of India's independence. Wiener was also at the peak of his career, having established the field of cybernetics a few years earlier. These two major 20th century leaders in the application of technology shared similarities in their backgrounds, and in their approach to the social value of science and technology. For Mahalanobis, Wiener's visit was one of many which he oversaw, bringing international experts to his students and staff. For Wiener as the initiator of modern factory automation, India provided an opportunity to work on an idea important to him, alternative development models to the “smokestack industrialization” of the European industrial revolution. Both made contributions to the development of the ...
This paper attempts to demonstrate that the philosophy of technology grounded in the humanities h... more This paper attempts to demonstrate that the philosophy of technology grounded in the humanities has relevance for practising technologists. Technologists occupy a problematic role in the philosophy of technology. On the one hand their privileged position vis-a-vis technology appears to offer them a powerful role in shaping the development of technology. On the other, the philosophical discourse (and indeed the wider discourse of the humanities) often limits them to being mere cogs in a broader sociotechnical machinery. The extent to which technology is deterministic has been a recurrent question in the philosophy of technology, with responses including substantivism, instrumentalism, developmentalism and critical theory. In this paper we consider how differing philosophical views with respect to the question of technological determinism may give rise to different understandings of the role of the technologist, and outline some possible implications for technologists.
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](IEEE Technology and Society Magazine
Technology and Society (ISTAS), 2010 …, Jan 1, 2010
In this polemical paper we present a Socratian dialogue that both critiques privacy and addresses... more In this polemical paper we present a Socratian dialogue that both critiques privacy and addresses its value. The purpose of this dialogue is to address questions that are often begged in the contemporary discourse around privacy, surveillance and technology — a discourse that assumes that privacy is a personal and social good without necessarily arguing the case. To prosecute the debate we have Aspicio — who will argue that privacy is a condition that is not only limited as a personal and social good, but is undesirable in many important respects. Aspicio is confronted by Occulto, who will argue that privacy is a condition that can and should be obtained and defended In the course of the dialogue our interlocutors discuss privacy as a right; privacy and modernity; privacy, the public sphere and the private sphere; privacy and individualism; the value of surveillance; and privacy, embarrassment and shame.
Technologies service many human needs. Socially beneficial technologies can also assist in resolv... more Technologies service many human needs. Socially beneficial technologies can also assist in resolving some of the world's most pressing problems: climate change; access to safe drinking water; quality housing; universal health care. Often a technology already exists, awaiting to be applied. In other cases it is within grasp given appropriate prioritisation. This paper considers approximately 100 theories of and approaches to technology innovation and adoption regarding the question, How is the failure of socially beneficial technology explained? Approaches include legal, regulatory, political, philosophical, sociological, usage, psychological, technical, economic, commercial, and marketing. This paper creates a framework of six categories in order to classify and compare the theories. It then proposed further research steps to examine the question.
Abstract Not-for-profit organisations are significant users of IT services, including Portals, fo... more Abstract Not-for-profit organisations are significant users of IT services, including Portals, for the use of public outreach and service delivery. While lacking the resources of the commercial sector, many not-for-profit organisations' needs may be similarly complex if ...
Information, Communication & Society, 2016
Information Communication Society, 2009
The editors of this book present this in four scenarios. Such an approach will be known to anyone... more The editors of this book present this in four scenarios. Such an approach will be known to anyone who has watched an information technology sales pitch: the 5 or 10 min informercial that shows people going about their lives and finding that everything they need is miraculously ...
Australian Journal of Telecommunications and the Digital Economy, 2016
Proceedings of the IEEE, 2015
The 21st century is witnessing unprecedented automation in many areas of life. As a result, tasks... more The 21st century is witnessing unprecedented automation in many areas of life. As a result, tasks previously undertaken by a person are now done by a machine. Humans who previously undertook these tasks brought particular views and approaches to each task. These or alternative views or approaches are now embodied in the machine. Rather than entirely removing humans from the process, however, replacement of human by machine has meant that the direct engagement of a person in a task has been replaced by the indirect engagement of the technologist who creates the machine. Among other things this has meant that the ethical responsibilities of the original human operator have devolved to the technologist. This raises questions of substantive ethics, and the responsibility of the technologist, including as " whistle-blower ". This paper examines three areas of technology development which highlight the growing ethical responsibility of technologists: the automation of work; the mechanization of humans; and autonomous warfare. The three areas selected have implications today, even in an early stage of development. Soon the responsibilities these technologies engender will confront technologists in their professional life.
2014 IEEE Conference on Norbert Wiener in the 21st Century (21CW), 2014
Norbert Wiener was interested in the social implications of technology and in particular in the h... more Norbert Wiener was interested in the social implications of technology and in particular in the historical, environmental, humanitarian, developmental, ethical implications and issues of discrimination. This research examines his writings for his views on these topics. It also examines the notion that Wiener's work, including his work on cybernetics, was anti-humanistic and militaristic. It identifies themes in the development of his ideas on the topics, including his life experiences, and relates to these to his exhortation to follow interesting problems.
The interdisciplinarity of Cybernetics has been both its strength and its weakness: a strength in... more The interdisciplinarity of Cybernetics has been both its strength and its weakness: a strength in that it enabled an originality of thought and a breadth of application not possible within conventional scholarly structures, but a weakness in that it never truly found a home that might institutionalise it, and from which it might reach out to the established disciplines. Its peripatetic constituents and porous, shifting borders makes the direct influence of Cybernetics on contemporary philosophies of technology difficult to establish, though some direct lines of influence can be traced. But any presence of parallels, or overlaps, provides circumstantial evidence of prescient status, if not influence, and such status is indicative of the intellectual significance of Cybernetics, regardless of influence. In this paper we identify key characteristics of Cybernetics that find parallels in contemporary philosophies of technology. These imbrications include: the constructed ontology of beings (and their performances) through information flows; beings as heterogeneous assemblages; the immaterial materiality of being; being and performing as reflexive, recursive and relational; beings seeking homeostasis; and the universality of all of the above.
Is the effort of engineers to advance technology for social benefit worthwhile? One widely accept... more Is the effort of engineers to advance technology for social benefit worthwhile? One widely accepted definition of social benefit, the UN Declaration of Human Rights, includes several rights that depend to a greater or lesser extent on technology. On the face of it this validates the effort of engineers. Yet prominent economist Friedrich Hayek queried the very concept of social benefit. This gap between the engineering and economic perspectives is not widely recognized. While initially neutral on the purpose of economic activity, economist Michael Porter has taken a position supporting social benefit.
For seven months from late 1955, Norbert Wiener (1894-1964) worked at the Indian Statistical Inst... more For seven months from late 1955, Norbert Wiener (1894-1964) worked at the Indian Statistical Institute at the invitation of Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis (1893-1972). Mahalanobis had achieved a remarkable feat, the creation of a world class institution within a decade of India's independence. Wiener was also at the peak of his career, having established the field of cybernetics a few years earlier. These two major 20th century leaders in the application of technology shared similarities in their backgrounds, and in their approach to the social value of science and technology. For Mahalanobis, Wiener's visit was one of many which he oversaw, bringing international experts to his students and staff. For Wiener as the initiator of modern factory automation, India provided an opportunity to work on an idea important to him, alternative development models to the “smokestack industrialization” of the European industrial revolution. Both made contributions to the development of the ...
This paper attempts to demonstrate that the philosophy of technology grounded in the humanities h... more This paper attempts to demonstrate that the philosophy of technology grounded in the humanities has relevance for practising technologists. Technologists occupy a problematic role in the philosophy of technology. On the one hand their privileged position vis-a-vis technology appears to offer them a powerful role in shaping the development of technology. On the other, the philosophical discourse (and indeed the wider discourse of the humanities) often limits them to being mere cogs in a broader sociotechnical machinery. The extent to which technology is deterministic has been a recurrent question in the philosophy of technology, with responses including substantivism, instrumentalism, developmentalism and critical theory. In this paper we consider how differing philosophical views with respect to the question of technological determinism may give rise to different understandings of the role of the technologist, and outline some possible implications for technologists.
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine
Technology and Society (ISTAS), 2010 …, Jan 1, 2010
In this polemical paper we present a Socratian dialogue that both critiques privacy and addresses... more In this polemical paper we present a Socratian dialogue that both critiques privacy and addresses its value. The purpose of this dialogue is to address questions that are often begged in the contemporary discourse around privacy, surveillance and technology — a discourse that assumes that privacy is a personal and social good without necessarily arguing the case. To prosecute the debate we have Aspicio — who will argue that privacy is a condition that is not only limited as a personal and social good, but is undesirable in many important respects. Aspicio is confronted by Occulto, who will argue that privacy is a condition that can and should be obtained and defended In the course of the dialogue our interlocutors discuss privacy as a right; privacy and modernity; privacy, the public sphere and the private sphere; privacy and individualism; the value of surveillance; and privacy, embarrassment and shame.
Technologies service many human needs. Socially beneficial technologies can also assist in resolv... more Technologies service many human needs. Socially beneficial technologies can also assist in resolving some of the world's most pressing problems: climate change; access to safe drinking water; quality housing; universal health care. Often a technology already exists, awaiting to be applied. In other cases it is within grasp given appropriate prioritisation. This paper considers approximately 100 theories of and approaches to technology innovation and adoption regarding the question, How is the failure of socially beneficial technology explained? Approaches include legal, regulatory, political, philosophical, sociological, usage, psychological, technical, economic, commercial, and marketing. This paper creates a framework of six categories in order to classify and compare the theories. It then proposed further research steps to examine the question.
Abstract Not-for-profit organisations are significant users of IT services, including Portals, fo... more Abstract Not-for-profit organisations are significant users of IT services, including Portals, for the use of public outreach and service delivery. While lacking the resources of the commercial sector, many not-for-profit organisations' needs may be similarly complex if ...