Impact of ICT innovations

Opportunities available to today's information society due to ICT use are numerous. However, there is growing concern over the challenges that may negatively impact social development, such as those concerning privacy and security. ICT actors recognise the urgency of developing an informed dialogue, gaining awareness of the circumstances required to maintain confidence in ICTs and creating support tools.

The overall aim of the project 'ICTethics. An interdisciplinary approach for addressing ethical, social and legal aspects of ICT' (ICTETHICS) was to survey the ESLA of ambient intelligence (AmI) — a digital environment that supports people in their daily lives. The results will lead to the development of the needed tools and network capacity for future exploitation by ESLA authorities, ICT professionals and the public.

In the study of AmI, the partners began by first determining and then analysing the four strategic ICT advancements that are capable of transforming the private and social spheres. They are: the development of intelligent environments; the convergence of physical, mental and virtual; the Internet of Things; and, ICT for human security.

For all four developments, the team collected a series of notions and beliefs based on the fact that they are established but grounded in fallacy, or defy conventional wisdom and can spark debate and trigger exchange.

In addition, project participants carried out several key information and dissemination activities. They organised workshops on security and on ICT for public policy, and set up a summer school for young scholars and a master class for active professionals.

ICTETHICS has smoothed the way for high-level ESLA of ICT. This will provide a clearer picture of how ICT innovations affect the future of all concerned.