HUMANISING TECHNOLOGY

Humanising Technology presents a compelling collection of 50 opinion editorials that delve into the multifaceted social impacts of technology. Drawing from over two decades of research and public engagement, the author offers nuanced insights into how technology intersects with human values and societal norms.

Organised into five thematic sections — AI Ethics; Design and Big Data; Digital Parenting and Young People, Education and Upskilling; and Social Inclusion — each segment begins with an introduction where the author contextualises the issues, reflecting on the evolution of her thoughts about changing techy trends and their societal implications. Through these essays, she addresses critical topics such as the ethical considerations in AI deployment, the responsibilities of designers in drawing insights from big data, the challenges of digital parenting in an always-connected world, the imperative of continuous education in the digital age, and the necessity of ensuring that technology serves to include rather than exclude or exploit.

The author reflects on her extensive academic journey, highlighting her commitment to translating scholarly research into actionable insights for policymakers, educators, and the general public. Her work underscores the importance of placing human needs and ethical considerations at the forefront of technological advancement.

Humanising Technology is an essential read for anyone interested in understanding how we can navigate the digital age responsibly, ensuring that technological progress aligns with and enhances our shared humanity.

Contents:

• Preface
• Design and Datafication for Societal Gain:
  • Trust — the Feature that Vending Machines and ATMs Share, but SimplyGo Lacks
  • Lessons from the Design of $100 CDC Digital Vouchers
  • When Diffusion Hits a Snag
  • Why We Should Introduce Speed Bumps in Our Use of Technology
  • Tackling the Torment of Phone Notifications
  • Some Chatbots Tell You What You Want to Hear. This is Dangerous
  • Reinventing the Social in Social Media
  • When High Rise Living Gets a Lift
  • When Sensors Make Sense
  • The Science and Sensibilities of Smart Cities
• Families & Growing (Tech) Pains:
  • Cot Bumper Approach to Raising Kids Won't Work
  • Want to Keep Your Kids Safe Online? First, Take Them on the Digital Black Box Tour
  • Tracking Your Child's Online Activity Should Not be Done Covertly
  • How Digital Connections Add Stress for Both Parents and Children
  • What 'Sephora Kids' Teach Us About the Pull and Perils of Social Media Trends
  • Should We Buy into Virtual Influencers?
  • Social Media is a Minefield, Here's How We can Make It Safer
  • The AI-Fuelled Child Exploitation Crisis is Global — So Must be Our Response
  • Teens and Their Devices: Bans are Not the Best Way to Go
  • Shedding Light on Children's Digital Rights
• Ethical AI: Beyond Proclamations and Platitudes:
  • Online Values, Ai and AI
  • What is the Fuss Over Twitter's 'Missing' Edit Button?
  • Shadow Banning Cuts Trust in Social Media
  • Are We Ready for a Post-Trust World?
  • Time to Break Free of Incessant Tech Upgrade Cycle
  • Why Ethical Guard Rails are Vital in an Industry Run on Big Data
  • Human or Bot? Reveal Yourself
  • What AI Still Cannot Do: Reason and Truly Empathise
  • Moving AI Ethics Beyond Guidelines
  • Fighting for Data Dregs — and Losing the Fight Against Digital Violence
• Learn, Unlearn, Relearn: W(h)ither Skills in the Digital Age:
  • What My Washing Machine Taught Me About Human-Machine Collaboration
  • As Technology Takes Over Education, Should We be Worried?
  • Laptops for Every Student — A Lot Could Go Wrong
  • In China, the State is Regulating Children's Work and Play — To What End?
  • Beef Up Support so Lifelong Learning can Yield Payoffs
  • As Technology Evolves, so Must Support for Adult Skills
  • Three Literacies to Level Up Singapore's Disruption Game
  • Engineering Education Must Also Focus on Social Aspects
  • Online Search is Changing, So Must Digital Skills
  • Think You Have a Friend? The AI Chatbot is Telling You What You Want to Hear
• Making Technology Work for Everyone:
  • Becoming Digitally Connected: What Holds People Back?
  • Mind the Gap — Income Divide in Children's Use of Digital Devices
  • Singapore's Digital Readiness Blueprint Must Also Address 'Invisible Illiteracies'
  • Multi-Stakeholder Approach to Online Safety Must Also Involve Children
  • Do Not Let Past Misdemeanours Haunt Youths in the Internet Age
  • Protecting the Digital Rights of the Young in Internet Saturated Singapore
  • Diversity, Inclusion and the Future of Work
  • What Happens When Women Have to Juggle 'Worry Work' with Paid Work
  • Designing a Digital World Where Your Parents Feel at Ease
  • How Not to Use AI is a Skill Singapore Must Master
• Credits

Readership: University students, Academics, Practitioners from Industry, Social Service and Community Organisations working on online trust and safety, digital inclusion and safety by design.