The Future of Human Digitization
A special issue of Information (ISSN 2078-2489). This special issue belongs to the section "Information Systems".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2020) | Viewed by 20590
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The concept of digitization refers to a large cluster of digital technologies, such as robotics, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and algorithms, big data, digital platforms, biometrics, persuasive technology, augmented reality, and virtual reality. Together, they are generating a new wave of digitization. Through these technologies, ever more aspects of our physical world are being digitized: 1. The material world (our streets, buildings, homes, production processes); 2. the biological world (our bodies and minds); and 3. the sociocultural world (our social environments including our work). For instance, virtual representations are entering the physical world: The digital world is growing, and technologies such as artificial intelligence and automated algorithms are increasingly being used to process the data in that world. The physical world and the digital world are becoming ever more closely intertwined. There are continuous feedback-loops between them. People, objects or processes in the physical world are first measured in bits and bytes and then analyzed (or profiled) in the digital world. These analyses in turn are then immediately used to modify products and services in the physical world. For example, smart homes measure the temperature in the dwelling, analyze the preferences of their occupants, and automatically adjust the thermostat to the desired temperature, at the desired time. Then there are smart cars, which measure the physical world around them via numerous sensors and cameras, while maintaining continuous connections with internet servers that process this information and retrieve map details or traffic updates. The cars then use the results of these analyses to find their way to their destination. The emergence of these continuous, cybernetic, feedback loops, appears to represent a new phase in the digitization of society.
The far-reaching digitization of society raises fundamental ethical and societal issues. The government, industry, and society are not yet adequately equipped to deal with these new issues. This challenges important public values and human rights such as privacy, equity and equality, autonomy, and human dignity. Great efforts need to be made at all levels of government and society to steer the digitization of society in the right direction. We are by no means powerless, however. Provided that the government, industry, and society take appropriate action, we can provide the digital society with a sensible upgrade.
This Special Issue on the future of human digitization aims to investigate, among others, the following questions:
- In what way will the digitization of society be shaped by new technologies in the coming 10 to 15 years?
- What kind of societal and ethical issues does the digitization of society raise?
- To what extent do these issues challenge the current governance system?
- Are there any blind spots in terms of how emerging ethical and societal issues are being handled?
- How can we translate emerging societal and ethical issues into policy, interministerial consultation, and coordination on digitization?
- How can we safeguard fundamental rights and human rights in the digital society?
- What are the new responsibilities for companies that develop digital products and services?
Dr. Lambèr Royakkers
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- Digitization
- Ethics
- Human rights
- Public values
- Artificial intelligence
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