INTRODUCTION                                                                                                                                                 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES                                                                                                                                   

WHAT IS TECHNOLOGY?                                                                                                                                  

How can we make beneficial technology?

To ensure that the technology being developed is most beneficial to all, we must consider the potential positive and negative impacts it will have. To do this, we can apply logic to extrapolate information based on existing evidence, make inferences based on examples we can already observe, and approach engineering problems using the framework of a technological steward.

_{Tech Steward Practice Program – Beneficial for All}

ACTIVITY 1: IMPACTS OF TECHNOLOGY                                                                                                         

In this activity, we will be heading back in time to 1876. At this time, Alexander Graham Bell is speaking into his invention, the very first telephone. If you were the inventor of this new technology or his consultant, what do you foresee as being some of the most significant impacts of his new telephone on society? Try to consider both positive and negative impacts to get a full picture of all the possible effects it may have.

Helpful tips to consider:

• Try to consider the impacts in the present day, and in the future.
• The negative impacts may be easier to see in hindsight, and can be more difficult to predict.

ACTIVITY 1: KEY TAKEAWAYS                                                                                                                         

Using the power of hindsight, it is easy to see some of the negative effects that technology such as the telephone has caused over the years. At the time, it would have been such a revolutionary method of communication that it could be easy to miss some of the more nuanced issues that played out in practice. As such, it is important to learn from the past to try to prevent repeating the same mistakes in the future. This is our responsibility as engineers, as we are always at the forefront of these developments.

A common misconception is that technology is developed to be neutral. Due to the nature of problem-solving, there are an infinite amount of ways to approach the design and implementation of new technologies, and this variance is what makes it difficult to design something truly neutral, making a lot of technology non-neutral. Something as simple as an automatic soap dispenser can be non-neutral simply due to the type of sensor it uses, as some sensors fail to detect darker skin tones.

WHAT IS TECHNOLOGICAL STEWARDSHIP?                                                                                                

_{The Engineering Change Lab. (2016, May 30)}

TECH STEWARDSHIP PRINCIPLES                                                                                                               

These Tech Stewardship principles are a set of ways of thinking and doing that we as engineers can apply to ensure that technology is maximized for the benefit of all.

• Seek Purpose
• Take Responsibility
• Expand Inclusion
• Widen Approaches

Seek Purpose

This principle involves directing technological development to maximize positive outcomes for all. One must consider how the purpose of the technology resonates with you as the developer, we as a team, and us as an organization/community. An important question is “How is this providing value to our direct stakeholders, as well as our broader communities?”.

Take Responsibility

When developing technology, one must consider, anticipate, and manage the complex impacts of technology across its entire life cycle. This involves thinking about how the technology is solving the problem its meant to be solving, and thinking critically about the intended and potentially non-intended impacts. If and when these impacts occur, there must be a plan in place to take responsibility for our actions, and a community to encourage and support others to also take responsibility.

Expand Inclusion

Inclusivity involves integrating a broad range of non-technical experts and ideas into technological development. By expanding who and what is considered and involved in decision making, and listening deeply to stakeholders, experts, and individuals, increased inclusion ensures that many different perspectives are considered, ensuring that a large number of bases are covered when it comes to considering potential issues.

Widen Approaches

By considering many approaches, we explore many alternatives by which we can solve the problem, boosting the health of the solution and maximizing its long-term potential. This takes into consideration not just the methods of problem-solving, but also the means of problem-solving, such as ensuring the efforts of the teams involved are well-directed, and that they have adequate resources to properly tackle the issues faced. The solution must consider the social systems it is being implemented in, and the natural environment it will be affecting, ensuring that the potential failures of the social systems are accounted for, and that the natural resources used are being used effectively and sustainably.

ACTIVITY 2: TECH STEWARDSHIP BEHAVIOURS                                                                                       

For this activity, you will find a few case studies on the worksheet provided. It is your task to summarize the situation concisely, and to identify which Tech Stew Behaviours best apply to the situation. Consider potential opportunities to apply the Tech Stew principle to achieve a better outcome, and think about the skills engineers would need to execute this. Also, consider whether or not this behaviour is applicable in your daily life.

Activity 2 Worksheet:

• Google Drive: Link to worksheet

ACTIVITY 2: KEY TAKEAWAYS                                                                                                                         

Practicing Tech Stew principles can lead to many breakthroughs in both professional settings and in your daily life. By applying these behavours in our own work, the collective weight of all our individual efforts will bend the arc of technology towards good. Even though there are only 4 principles, mastery over all of them takes time and consistency, so you can always pick one to focus on before expanding and improving.