Ontario Tech University sharpens its focus on ‘technology with a conscience’

“Every technological decision is an ethical decision.”
-Bill Buxton, keynote speaker, 2019 Futures Forum at Ontario Tech University

In almost every facet of our daily lives, humans interact with technology. These interactions often lead to greater productivity and an enhanced quality of life, whether at work or during our personal time. But our immersion in, and fascination with, technology can also distract, frustrate, and even harm us.

What does it mean to develop technology with a conscience? What are our obligations to using technology responsibly? How can we improve the designs of new technological innovations while carefully considering their societal impact? 

On May 2, leading experts explored these questions and more during Ontario Tech University’s 2019 Futures Forum: ‘The Future of Tech with a Conscience’.

Primary themes in panel discussions included:

• Everyday human-machine interactions (time code 16:16 to 1:30:15)
• Technology and privacy (time code 2:15:38 to 3:16:20)
• Digital competencies in the new millennium (time code 1:34:01 to 2:36:50)

Highlighting the 2019 Futures Forum was keynote speaker Bill Buxton, noted technology theorist, designer and Principal Researcher at Microsoft (time code 3:41 to 1:08:27). Buxton has had a pioneering role in the development of a wide variety of interactive technologies during his career. His thought-provoking address challenged the Futures Forum audience to consider American historian Melvin Kranzberg’s (1917-1995) First Law of Technology that “technology is neither good nor bad; nor is it neutral.”

Buxton says while humans are often blind to the impact of technological change because the increments are so rapid, we remain obligated to consider tech evolution through the lens of a moral compass.

Buxton, a recipient of the Special Interest Group on Computer-Human Interaction (SIGCHI) Lifetime Achievement Award, argues that when it comes to technology, problem setting is more important than problem solving. He says that while technology affords society the capacity to do almost anything, the biggest question is not “What could we do?” but rather, “What should we do?”

• View Bill Buxton’s Futures Forum keynote address (time code 3:41 to 1:08:27)