Ways in which technology can assist persons with disabilities
Assistive Technologies (21)
Find narratives by ethical themes or by technologies.
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- 11 min
- Kinolab
- 1993
Geordie uses a brain-computer interface, which projects his consciousness into a mobile avatar controlled by his neural impulses, to explore distant ships. This humanoid avatar is able to perform tasks that go beyond human capabilities, such as shooting phaser beams from the hands. However, upon discovering the dead crew of the Raman, it is revealed that the lines separating his virtual reality and true reality are blurred.
- Kinolab
- 1993
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- 11 min
- Kinolab
- 1993
Interface: The Virtual Extension of the Self
Geordie uses a brain-computer interface, which projects his consciousness into a mobile avatar controlled by his neural impulses, to explore distant ships. This humanoid avatar is able to perform tasks that go beyond human capabilities, such as shooting phaser beams from the hands. However, upon discovering the dead crew of the Raman, it is revealed that the lines separating his virtual reality and true reality are blurred.
Discussion Prompts:
What non-fantastical applications might you be able to think of for a technology similar to this, especially in regards to transferring neural impulses into a machine? What are the consequences of giving machines unbridled access to our thoughts? How can machines get in the way of perception of objective reality?
Star Trek: The Next Generation: Test Run-
- 5 min
- Gizmodo
- 2020
This article describes the new Amazon Sidewalk feature and subsequently explains why users should not buy into this service. Essentially, this feature uses the internet of things created by Amazon devices such as the Echo or Ring camera to create a secondary network connecting nearby homes which also contain these devices, which is sustained by each home “donating” a small amount of broadband. It is explained that this is a dangerous concept because this smaller network may be susceptible to hackers, putting a large number of users at risk.
- Gizmodo
- 2020
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- 5 min
- Gizmodo
- 2020
You Need to Opt Out of Amazon Sidewalk
This article describes the new Amazon Sidewalk feature and subsequently explains why users should not buy into this service. Essentially, this feature uses the internet of things created by Amazon devices such as the Echo or Ring camera to create a secondary network connecting nearby homes which also contain these devices, which is sustained by each home “donating” a small amount of broadband. It is explained that this is a dangerous concept because this smaller network may be susceptible to hackers, putting a large number of users at risk.
Discussion Prompts:
Why are “secondary networks” like the one described here a bad idea in terms of both surveillance and data privacy? Is it possible for the world to be too networked? How can tech developers make sure the general public has a healthy skepticism toward new devices? Or is it ultimately Amazon’s job to think about the ethical implications of this secondary network before introducing it for profits?
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- The Robot Report
- 2021
The article explains the working definition of Brain Computer Interface technologies (BCI), the current startup BCI tech companies in this sector which mostly focus on BCI applications for assistive prosthetics.
- The Robot Report
- 2021
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- The Robot Report
- 2021
Brain-computer interface startups augmenting human body
The article explains the working definition of Brain Computer Interface technologies (BCI), the current startup BCI tech companies in this sector which mostly focus on BCI applications for assistive prosthetics.
Discussion Prompts:
How do BCI technologies make the world “safer”, “more productive”, and “more accessible”? How are these terms defined in the article and by whom? In what ways does the article discuss co-design methods used with prosthetics users? How well do you beleive these potential BCI users understand the short and long term risks of this emerging medical technology? How well does the article discuss the potential harms?
- ZDNet
- 2021
Alexa Conversations improves its quality of natural language processing as users feed them sample conversations. This feedback system allows Alexa Conversations to cut costs of training developers and managing related data.
- ZDNet
- 2021
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- ZDNet
- 2021
Amazon makes Alexa Conversations generally available
Alexa Conversations improves its quality of natural language processing as users feed them sample conversations. This feedback system allows Alexa Conversations to cut costs of training developers and managing related data.
Discussion Prompts:
What are some measures you think technology companies should implement to ensure the protection of users’ privacy? What role do you think the government should play?
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- 2 min
- azfamily.com
- 2018
Facial recognition technology has found a new application: reuniting dogs with their owners. A simple machine learning algorithm takes a photo of a dog and crawls through a database of photos of dogs in shelters in hopes of finding a match.
- azfamily.com
- 2018
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- 2 min
- azfamily.com
- 2018
Facial recognition technology now used in Phoenix area to locate lost dogs
Facial recognition technology has found a new application: reuniting dogs with their owners. A simple machine learning algorithm takes a photo of a dog and crawls through a database of photos of dogs in shelters in hopes of finding a match.
Discussion Prompts:
How could this beneficial use of recognition technology find even broader use?
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- 20 min
- MIT Press
- 2018
Lilith, a contract laborer, ends up in a dangerous situation when the self-driving ship she rides malfunctions. Kyleen, a human who has undergone a human-editing networking process called “meshing,” is able to control a proxy robot via a brain-computer interface to help Lilith get to her destination safely.
- MIT Press
- 2018
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- 20 min
- MIT Press
- 2018
Robotic Proxies and Telepresence: “Different Seas” by Alastair Reynolds
Lilith, a contract laborer, ends up in a dangerous situation when the self-driving ship she rides malfunctions. Kyleen, a human who has undergone a human-editing networking process called “meshing,” is able to control a proxy robot via a brain-computer interface to help Lilith get to her destination safely.
Discussion Prompts:
How can robotic proxies be helpful to people in danger? Who should be allowed or certified to operate these, in theory? How might these be implicated in inequitable class structures, as outlined in the story? Should humans be networked with machines, and would this really be to the ultimate benefit of humanity?