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Cyber wargames
No full textThe lecture explored Dr Curry's research on how previous cyber wars have been carried out in the past and generalising trends about future cyber conflict
Ethical judicial restraint and the rule of law: strengthening constitutional integrity in the UK
Get PDFThis article establishes the theoretical framework for evaluating the concepts of ‘elective dictatorship’ and ‘partisan politics’ within the broader context of UK rule of law and ethics. It critically examines these notions to diverge from the conventional practice of parliamentary sovereignty in instances of power abuse. The term ‘elective dictatorship’ describes a scenario where an elected political party wields substantial power without effective checks and balances, leading to a concentration of power within the ruling party. This situation raises concerns about the erosion of democratic principles and potential power abuse. Closely linked to this is the concept of partisan politics, where alignment with a particular political party leads to abuses of power, challenging the principle of parliamentary sovereignty. Various factors contribute to this dynamic, including ideological, social, and economic considerations. In a healthy democracy, political parties play a crucial role in representing diverse interests and offering voters choices. However, when partisan politics becomes overly polarised and prioritises gaining and maintaining power at any cost, it can foster an elective dictatorship. This article reviews existing literature in this domain and addresses these concepts within the context of the rule of law and ethics. It aims to fill a gap in the literature by establishing the conceptual parameters for ‘elective dictatorship’ and ‘partisan Politics’, and argues that when both are used to undermine the judiciary, the court has a duty to depart from traditional norms. It further recommends that courts assess any legislation enacted by the government and Parliament against the rule of law, morality, and ethics
Potential factors contributing to observed sex differences in virtual-reality-induced sickness
Get PDFVirtual reality (VR) technology has been widely adopted for several professional and recreational applications. Despite rapid innovation in hardware and software, one of the long prevailing issues for end users of VR is the experience of VR sickness. Females experience stronger VR sickness compared to males, and previous research has linked susceptibility to VR sickness to the menstrual cycle (Munafo et al., Exp Brain Res 235(3):889–901). Here we investigated the female versus male experience in VR sickness while playing an immersive VR game, comparing days of the menstrual cycle when hormones peak: day 15 (ovulation—peak estrogen) and day 22 (mid-luteal phase—peak progesterone). We found that immersion duration was greater in the second session than the first, and discomfort was lessened, suggesting a powerful adaptation with repeated exposure. Due to the estrogen levels changing along with the exposure, there was no clear independent impact of that; note, though, that there was a significant difference between self-report and physiological measures implying that GSR is potentially an unreliable measure of motion sickness. Although prior work found a delay over 2 days between session would not allow adaptation and habituation to reduce VR sickness susceptibility, we found that a week delay has potential success
Towards a postdigital social contract for higher education in the age of artificial intelligence
Get PDFThis paper sketches contemporary transformations of social contract and outlines a path towards the development of a postdigital social contract for higher education in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI). We set the scene by looking at existing research in AI and education. We then briefly discuss the idea of the ‘social contract’ as it has been conceived by both classic and contemporary authors. We also examine the more recent calls for a rethinking and reactualization of the social contract, given ongoing inequities of opportunity and societal disadvantage. Finally, we warn about the problems with mixing the algorithmic epistēmē and McPolicy, argue for a rehumanization of the policy discourse, insist on a shift from short-term hyping to sustainable development, and call for a rich, wide, and critically reflexive debate about how a postdigital social contract for higher education in the age of AI might look
Perfect information: scores as self-evident processes
Get PDFSelf-evident processes in music suggest the possibility of close engagement with the operation of a piece, with the potential for empathic and communal experiences to be had by both participants and observers. Taking the notion of perfect and imperfect information in games as a starting point, the paper considers what might be gained by presenting scores as systems of perfect information. In games with perfect or public information, all the necessary information is made available to us, so we have the potential to understand player choices and empathise with them when spectating. In process music, if the necessary information is made available to us we also have the potential to understand player choices and empathise with them. The paper considers the development of self-evident music in this context, proposing three modes of information delivery: demonstrating, explaining and showing. These modes are considered in relation to the management of information flow and the corresponding cognitive load placed on listeners through the control of speed, density, simultaneity and sequentiality in the presentation of instructions
Ecological theory in design: participant designers in an age of entanglement
No full textEcological thought challenges the intellectual tradition wherein the environment is available to be endlessly exploited and where humanity must conquer the non-human natural world to survive. The design of sustainable ways of living requires a different perspective. Ecological thought emphasizes the intricate interconnectivity and interdependency between humans and the non-human natural world. This chapter presents the historical attitudes towards nature and the origins and characteristics of ecological thought in the context of participant designers. Ecological thought offers a more coherent paradigm as a basis for sustainable transformations. The participant designer understands herself as embedded within and interdependent with her ecological context. Yet effective design solutions do not simply emerge from this understanding. They become possible through her capacities to analyze and identify the interests that are systemically de-prioritized in this particular context along the concepts that legitimize environmental and social harms and injustices. The participant designer must understand why the political economy matters for regenerative design to enable change on a scale necessary to address society’s most severe problems
COVID-19 impact on children’s social work practice and social worker well-being: a mixed methods study from Northern Ireland and Great Britain during 2020–2022
Get PDFSocial workers were heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we examined the well-being, burnout and work conditions of UK children’s social workers at five time points of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a cross-sectional mixed methods study analysing data from 1,621 social workers who worked in children’s services in the UK in 2020–2022. Data were collected using anonymous online surveys which included both quantitative and qualitative questions. The mental well-being of participants decreased as the pandemic progressed and work-related burnout increased. In the later stages of the pandemic, children’s social workers in Northern Ireland fared better than their Great Britain counterparts in relation to their well-being and levels of burnout. Thematic analysis of qualitative data revealed four major themes: Changes in service demand and referrals, Adapted ways of working, Staff shortages and Emotional impact. The findings highlight the challenges that the children’s social workers encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic and have implications for policy, practice and research
To scroll, share, and sign: young adults and digital feminist activism
No full textFeminist activism can be used to unearth untold stories, give a voice to the oppressed, and draw attention to local or global inequalities. Indeed, digital feminist activism is central to the fourth wave, with topics ranging from climate change to taking back the night. Although it is important to think about the ways in which feminist media theorists are analysing activist politics, we need to speak to existing young adults about their own activist agendas. We need to ask about the various campaigns and movements that have encouraged them to stand up and take action; where and how they find them, and what impact they have had on their lived realities. With this in mind, this chapter will draw on an online questionnaire, asking eighteen- to twenty-five-year olds about their experiences of digital feminist activism, asking them to set the framework for a consideration of the ways in which digital platforms can communicate ideas and enact change