Ethical implications of continuous life recording

Source: Engineering Ethics Blog <http://engineeringethicsblog.blogspot.com/2007/03/who-needs-digital-life.html>

Inspired by the article "A Digital Life" published in March 2007 by Scientific American, Professor Karl STEPHAN (Texas State University, United States of America) discusses the ethical implications of life recording with ubiquitous systems in his post "Who Needs a Digital Life?".

In his opinion, the ethical issues emerge from dependence and deception. Dependence concerns the user herself: reliance on computer support might reduce her memory as well as her ability to memorize. This dependence is even more dramatic if an outsider alters the data and the user believes that version instead of her own memory. Deception concerns the data: texts, photos and videos representing a whole life pose significant risks if stolen, including identity theft, blackmail, disclosure inducing social harm, etc.

To extend Professor Stephan's analysis, a third ethical problem can be added: permanence, and the associated weight of the past. Fumbles, mistakes, and other embarrassing situations are usually forgotten within days or weeks. Human memory is well done in that way; the ability to forget is a blessing. However machines may keep all data and provide it years later to answer standard queries. Sweeping the event-related data from the hard disk only partly solves the problem because (1) it creates a visible gap in the data flow, and (2) bystanders equipped with the same system may have stored similar data about the event, beyond the reach of the concerned person.

Robotic age poses ethical dilemma

Source: BBC News <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6425927.stm>

An ethical code to prevent humans abusing robots, and vice versa, is being drawn up by South Korea. The Robot Ethics Charter will cover standards for users and manufacturers and will be released later in 2007... [Read the article]

HIS seminar #3 - Quantum Information: basic concepts in quantum physics and applications of entanglement and quantum optics, in 東京 (Tokyo, Japan)

Source: Horizons <http://horizons.free.fr/his/eng/seminars/2007-02-22_his-seminar_3.htm>

The 3^rd seminar on Horizons for Information Societies was an introduction to quantum information. Mr Louis (NII) and Dr Van Loock (NII) presented, respectively, basic concepts in quantum physics and applications of entanglement and quantum optics at the 国立情報学研究所 (National Institute of Informatics).

Slides of the presentations:

• Mr LOUIS Sébastien: Basic Concepts in Quantum Physics (PDF)
• Dr VAN LOOCK Peter: Applications of Entanglement and Quantum Optics (PDF)
  

Date: 22 February 2007 (15:00-17:00)
Location: 国立情報学研究所 (National Institute of Informatics), Tokyo, Japan
Language: English
Registration fees: None
Organization: Dr DUVAL Sébastien (国立情報学研究所 (National Institute of Informatics))

HIS seminar #2 - Affective Interface Agents: emotional agents for time management and interaction based on physiological signals, in 東京 (Tokyo, Japan)

Source: Horizons <http://horizons.free.fr/his/eng/seminars/2006-12-05_his-seminar_2.htm>

The 2^nd seminar on Horizons for Information Societies was about affective interface agents. Dr Richard (JSPS fellow, NII) and Dr Prendinger (NII) presented their research on, respectively, emotional agents for time management and interaction based on physiological signals at the 国立情報学研究所 (National Institute of Informatics).

Slides of the presentations:

• Dr RICHARD Nadine: Interface Agents Expressing Emotions: What For? (PDF)
• Dr PRENDINGER Helmut: Affective Interaction with Life-Like Interface Agents (PDF)
  

Date: 05 December 2006 (15:00-17:00)
Location: 国立情報学研究所 (National Institute of Informatics), Tokyo, Japan
Language: English
Registration fees: None
Organization: Dr DUVAL Sébastien (国立情報学研究所 (National Institute of Informatics))

HIS seminar #1 - Data Processing: semi-supervised clustering and inter-modal analysis, in 東京 (Tokyo, Japan)

Source: Horizons <http://horizons.free.fr/his/eng/seminars/2006-11-01_his-seminar_1.htm>

The 1^st seminar on Horizons for Information Societies was about data processing. Dr Grira (NII) and Dr Martinet (JSPS fellow, NII) presented their research on, respectively, semi-supervised clustering and inter-modal analysis at the 国立情報学研究所 (National Institute of Informatics).

Slides of the presentations:

• Dr GRIRA Nizar: Semi-Supervised Clustering in Image Databases (PDF)
• Dr MARTINET Jean: Inter-Modal Analysis for Document Annotation: an Information Theoretic Approach (PDF)
  

Date: 01 November 2006 (15:00-17:00)
Location: 国立情報学研究所 (National Institute of Informatics), Tokyo, Japan
Language: English
Registration fees: None
Organization: Dr DUVAL Sébastien (国立情報学研究所 (National Institute of Informatics))

Fashion show dedicated to wearable computers held in 大阪 (Osaka, Japan)

Source: Horizons <http://horizons.free.fr/seikatsu/eng/events/2005-10_jp-osaka_iswc-fashion.htm>

The International Symposium on Wearable Computers (aka ISWC2005), which took place in 大阪 (Osaka, Japan), included a fashion show dedicated to wearable computers. The majority of models were proposed by チームつかもと (Team Tsukamoto). The designs were more aesthetic than functional, but this is bound to change in the coming years. The organization of such a fashion show in 大阪 (Osaka) is quite natural because the famous specialist 塚本昌彦 (TSUKAMOTO Masahiko) formerly belonged to 大阪大学 (Osaka university), and is still nearby at 神戸大学 (Kobe university).

The evening fashion show featured numerous luminous accessories and garments, and presented concepts such as garments on which one can play music... [Read more and see photos]

Janine Benyus: 12 sustainable design ideas from nature

Source: TED Talks <http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/18>

With 3.8 billion years of research and development on its side, nature has already solved problems that human designers and engineers still struggle with. In this inspiring talk, Janine Benyus provides fascinating examples of biomimicry -- the way humans mimic nature in the products we build and the systems we implement... [View the video]