Social Implications of Design and Technology

This week's lectures gave me a better understanding of research paradigms, methodologies, and approaches. I think this was the foundation that I was lacking when I was conducting my initial research to narrow my research topic. However, now I feel more confident continuing my preliminary research as I conceptualized a framework in my head. 


I’m currently reading policy briefs and reports to get a better understanding of tech regulation, public policy implications of contemporary technologies. I’m also looking at the ethical concerns around technologies such as artificial intelligence and augmented reality to analyze how the design of these technologies affects/will affect behaviour, which has both intended and unintended implications for society.


Some research questions:

  • What are the social implications of design and tech artifacts? 
  • What are the mediating roles of technology? 
  • What are the moral responsibilities of the designer considering the social implications of their designs? 
  • How users are being affected, manipulated, persuaded, or informed by technology?

For now, I have identified a few keywords: Responsible Innovation, Social Implications of Design, Design Ethics, Technological Mediation, Ethics of Technology 

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