Promotion of Human Values (161)
Find narratives by ethical themes or by technologies.
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- 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.
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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- 5 min
- MIT Tech Review
- 2020
The Semantic Scholar is a new AI program which has been trained to read through scientific papers and provide a unique one sentence summary of the paper’s content. The AI has been trained with a large data set focused on learning how to process natural language and summarise it. The ultimate idea is to use technology to help learning and synthesis happen more quickly, especially for figure such as politicians.
- MIT Tech Review
- 2020
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- 5 min
- MIT Tech Review
- 2020
AI Summarisation
The Semantic Scholar is a new AI program which has been trained to read through scientific papers and provide a unique one sentence summary of the paper’s content. The AI has been trained with a large data set focused on learning how to process natural language and summarise it. The ultimate idea is to use technology to help learning and synthesis happen more quickly, especially for figure such as politicians.
How might this technology cause people to become lazy readers? How does this technology, like many other digital technologies, shorten attention spans? How can it be ensured that algorithms like this do not leave out critical information?
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- 5 min
- Wired
- 2021
A computer vision algorithm created by an MIT PhD student and trained on a large data set of mammogram photos from several years show potential for use in radiology. The algorithm is able to identify risk for breast cancer seemingly more reliably than the older statistical models through tagging the data with attributes that human eyes have missed. This would allow for customization in screening and treatment plans.
- Wired
- 2021
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- 5 min
- Wired
- 2021
These Doctors are using AI to Screen for Breast Cancer
A computer vision algorithm created by an MIT PhD student and trained on a large data set of mammogram photos from several years show potential for use in radiology. The algorithm is able to identify risk for breast cancer seemingly more reliably than the older statistical models through tagging the data with attributes that human eyes have missed. This would allow for customization in screening and treatment plans.
Do there seem to be any drawbacks to using this technology widely? How important is transparency of the algorithm in this case, as long as it seems to provide accurate results? How might this change the nature of doctor-patient relationships?
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- 5 min
- Kinolab
- 2013
Actress Robin Wright plays a fictionalized version of herself who traverses through both the real world and the mixed reality of Abrahama city in this narrative. As Miramount Studio animator Dylan explains to her, the rules of the mixed reality allow people to appear as an avatar which they please, editing their human features into more imaginative ones. With this capability, many people choose to remain in the mixed reality permanently, leaving the real world in a grim stupor.
- Kinolab
- 2013
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- 5 min
- Kinolab
- 2013
Removed from Reality
Actress Robin Wright plays a fictionalized version of herself who traverses through both the real world and the mixed reality of Abrahama city in this narrative. As Miramount Studio animator Dylan explains to her, the rules of the mixed reality allow people to appear as an avatar which they please, editing their human features into more imaginative ones. With this capability, many people choose to remain in the mixed reality permanently, leaving the real world in a grim stupor.
Who has a responsibility to ensure that mixed and virtual realities are not tantalizing enough to absolve humans from the responsibility for caring for the real world? How can addiction to digital realities be ameliorated? What issues of identity and presentation to others arise from the capability to appear however one pleases? How is this empowering, and how is this dangerous?
The Congress: Everyone is What They Want to Be-
- 10 min
- Kinolab
- 2015
During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive. Communication between Earth and space happens primarily through data streaming methods, such as video chats or satellite broadcasts. With the launch of a spacecraft known as IRIS, Mark anticipates a delivery of food rations. However, he is unaware that the safety inspections have been bypassed, which results in the entire operation failing and the chances of his survival dramatically decreasing.
- Kinolab
- 2015
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- 10 min
- Kinolab
- 2015
Mars Rescue Part I: Making Contact
During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive. Communication between Earth and space happens primarily through data streaming methods, such as video chats or satellite broadcasts. With the launch of a spacecraft known as IRIS, Mark anticipates a delivery of food rations. However, he is unaware that the safety inspections have been bypassed, which results in the entire operation failing and the chances of his survival dramatically decreasing.
Does space travel and exploration seem like a good use of scientific or technological capital? Is it too dangerous of a frontier to dispense so many technological resources on? How is the development of data streaming methods over long distances depicted positively here? How does technological innovation have the potential to spur global alliances?
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- 11 min
- Kinolab
- 2015
During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive. Communication between Earth and space happens primarily through data streaming methods, such as video chats or satellite broadcasts. In the second part of this narrative, countries across the globe, specifically the U.S and China, work together to engineer a plan to get Mark Watney back on board the Hermes ship. While there are complications, Mark is eventually reunited with his crew.
- Kinolab
- 2015
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- 11 min
- Kinolab
- 2015
Mars Rescue Part II: Global Alliances and Human Connection
During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive. Communication between Earth and space happens primarily through data streaming methods, such as video chats or satellite broadcasts. In the second part of this narrative, countries across the globe, specifically the U.S and China, work together to engineer a plan to get Mark Watney back on board the Hermes ship. While there are complications, Mark is eventually reunited with his crew.
Does space travel and exploration seem like a good use of scientific or technological capital? Is it too dangerous of a frontier to dispense so many technological resources on? How is the development of data streaming methods over long distances depicted positively here? How does technological innovation have the potential to spur global alliances? Is spending significant time and money on technology and innovation worthwhile if it leads to global cooperations?