TATuP – Zeitschrift für Technikfolgenabschätzung in Theorie und Praxis
Not a member yet
3192 research outputs found
Sort by
Infrastructures of care: Ethics in everyday digital media use
Full text linkThis article conceptualizes digital media as infrastructures of care. Using care ethics, it explores the importance of maintenance and support for creating sustainable and equitable digital environments. Based on an examination of the challenges and user support relationships within digital media use, it proposes policy measures to enhance sustainability and inclusion, emphasizing the critical role of care in ensuring reliable digital infrastructures.This article conceptualizes digital media as infrastructures of care. Using care ethics, it explores the importance of maintenance and support for creating sustainable and equitable digital environments. Based on an examination of the challenges and user support relationships within digital media use, it proposes policy measures to enhance sustainability and inclusion, emphasizing the critical role of care in ensuring reliable digital infrastructures
Technology assessment in the mobility sector: What can we learn from social network analysis?
Full text linkMany experts assume that increasing automation will lead to far-reaching changes in the mobility system. The pace and direction of this transition are a matter of great social interest. Therefore, the inclusion of citizens’ perspectives is called for. However, similar as with other research approaches in technology assessment, there are two major challenges: the self-selection bias of such formats and the fact that automated driving cannot yet be experienced in the reality of people’s lives. To tackle these challenges, we present a novel two-step research approach in this article. In the first step, a social network analysis is used to examine how people organize their everyday lives and the extent to which the mobility transition will affect them as a result. In the second step, representatives of different everyday configurations discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the transformation.Many experts assume that increasing automation will lead to far-reaching changes in the mobility system. The pace and direction of this transition are a matter of great social interest. Therefore, the inclusion of citizens’ perspectives is called for. However, similar as with other research approaches in technology assessment, there are two major challenges: the self-selection bias of such formats and the fact that automated driving cannot yet be experienced in the reality of people’s lives. To tackle these challenges, we present a novel two-step research approach in this article. In the first step, a social network analysis is used to examine how people organize their everyday lives and the extent to which the mobility transition will affect them as a result. In the second step, representatives of different everyday configurations discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the transformation
Deep sustainability in the plastics sector?: A critical discourse analysis of circular economy narratives
Full text linkThis article examines how actors in the plastics industry frame and implement circular economy (CE) strategies through a deep sustainability (DS) lens. Using Fairclough’s critical discourse analysis, we evaluate sustainability reports of twelve companies across four value chain layers against five DS criteria. The results show a predominance of efficiency- and innovation-focused narratives, while sufficiency, justice, and integrity of system boundaries remain marginal. This is often supported by governance concepts that focus on feedstock security and compliance, though there are emerging signs of engagement at the paradigmatic level. Without sufficiency-oriented measures and just governance, we run the risk of reproducing unsustainable dynamics within the circular economy. By applying DS criteria to CE discourses, technology assessment can identify leverage points for enforcing sufficiency, justice, and governance to achieve systemic transformation.This article examines how actors in the plastics industry frame and implement circular economy (CE) strategies through a deep sustainability (DS) lens. Using Fairclough’s critical discourse analysis, we evaluate sustainability reports of twelve companies across four value chain layers against five DS criteria. The results show a predominance of efficiency- and innovation-focused narratives, while sufficiency, justice, and integrity of system boundaries remain marginal. This is often supported by governance concepts that focus on feedstock security and compliance, though there are emerging signs of engagement at the paradigmatic level. Without sufficiency-oriented measures and just governance, we run the risk of reproducing unsustainable dynamics within the circular economy. By applying DS criteria to CE discourses, technology assessment can identify leverage points for enforcing sufficiency, justice, and governance to achieve systemic transformation
Meeting report: „Challenges Posed by AI for the Work of Research Ethics Committees”. Conference, 2024, Hannover, DE
Full text linkToward deep assessments: On the possibility of decolonial digital technologies
Full text linkConsidering the coloniality of current digital tools and their increasingly massive global social and ecological impacts, we explore the question of what socio-cultural assemblages can contribute to deep civilizational transformations. Using a decolonial technology assessment approach, de-centring technologies by focusing on socio-technical praxes, this article examines what practices enable the use of information and communication tools to support communities and social movements in their emancipatory struggles while acknowledging the colonial infrastructures of those very technologies. We do so by examining documented examples of community networks deployed in different contexts to illustrate the challenges and promising perspectives arising from their approachesConsidering the coloniality of current digital tools and their increasingly massive global social and ecological impacts, we explore the question of what socio-cultural assemblages can contribute to deep civilizational transformations. Using a decolonial technology assessment approach, de-centring technologies by focusing on socio-technical praxes, this article examines what practices enable the use of information and communication tools to support communities and social movements in their emancipatory struggles while acknowledging the colonial infrastructures of those very technologies. We do so by examining documented examples of community networks deployed in different contexts to illustrate the challenges and promising perspectives arising from their approache
