2018
Digital Twins in Health Care: Ethical Implications of an Emerging Engineering Paradigm Journal Article
In: Frontiers in Genetics, vol. 9, pp. 31, 2018, ISSN: 1664-8021.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: digital twins, ethics of biomedical data, ethics of human enhancement, personalized medicine, privacy, privacy in healthcare, technologies, therapy, value sensitive design in healthcare technologies, value:health, virtual self
@article{10.3389/fgene.2018.00031,
title = {Digital Twins in Health Care: Ethical Implications of an Emerging Engineering Paradigm},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fgene.2018.00031},
doi = {10.3389/fgene.2018.00031},
issn = {1664-8021},
year = {2018},
date = {2018-02-13},
urldate = {2018-02-13},
journal = {Frontiers in Genetics},
volume = {9},
pages = {31},
abstract = {Personalized medicine uses fine grained information on individual persons, to pinpoint deviations from the normal. ‘Digital Twins’ in engineering provide a conceptual framework to analyse these emerging data-driven health care practices, as well as their implications for therapy, preventative care and human enhancement.
Digital Twins stands for a specific engineering paradigm, where individual physical artefacts are paired with a digital model that dynamically reflects the status of that artefact. When applied to persons, Digital Twins are an emerging technology that builds in silico representations of an individual that dynamically reflect molecular status, physiological status and life style over time.
We use Digital Twins as the hypothesis that one would be in the possession of very detailed bio-physical and lifestyle information of a person over time. This perspective redefines the concept of ‘normality’ or ‘health’, as a set of patterns that are regular for a particular individual, against the backdrop of patterns observed in the population. This perspective also will impact what is considered therapy and what is enhancement, as can be illustrated with the cases of the ‘asymptomatic ill’ and life extension via anti-ageing medicine. This changes are the consequence of how meaning is derived, in case measurement data is available. Moral distinctions namely will be based on patterns found in these data and the meanings that are grafted on these patterns.
Ethical and societal implications of Digital Twins are explored. Digital Twins imply a data-driven approach to health care. This approach has the potential to deliver significant societal benefits, and can function as a social equalizer, by allowing for effective equalizing enhancement interventions. It can as well though be a driver for inequality, given the fact that a digital twin might not be an accessible technology for everyone, and given the fact that patterns identified across a population of digital twins can lead to segmentation and discrimination. This duality calls for governance as this emerging technology matures, including measures that ensure transparency of data usage and derived benefits, and data privacy.},
keywords = {digital twins, ethics of biomedical data, ethics of human enhancement, personalized medicine, privacy, privacy in healthcare, technologies, therapy, value sensitive design in healthcare technologies, value:health, virtual self},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Personalized medicine uses fine grained information on individual persons, to pinpoint deviations from the normal. ‘Digital Twins’ in engineering provide a conceptual framework to analyse these emerging data-driven health care practices, as well as their implications for therapy, preventative care and human enhancement.
Digital Twins stands for a specific engineering paradigm, where individual physical artefacts are paired with a digital model that dynamically reflects the status of that artefact. When applied to persons, Digital Twins are an emerging technology that builds in silico representations of an individual that dynamically reflect molecular status, physiological status and life style over time.
We use Digital Twins as the hypothesis that one would be in the possession of very detailed bio-physical and lifestyle information of a person over time. This perspective redefines the concept of ‘normality’ or ‘health’, as a set of patterns that are regular for a particular individual, against the backdrop of patterns observed in the population. This perspective also will impact what is considered therapy and what is enhancement, as can be illustrated with the cases of the ‘asymptomatic ill’ and life extension via anti-ageing medicine. This changes are the consequence of how meaning is derived, in case measurement data is available. Moral distinctions namely will be based on patterns found in these data and the meanings that are grafted on these patterns.
Ethical and societal implications of Digital Twins are explored. Digital Twins imply a data-driven approach to health care. This approach has the potential to deliver significant societal benefits, and can function as a social equalizer, by allowing for effective equalizing enhancement interventions. It can as well though be a driver for inequality, given the fact that a digital twin might not be an accessible technology for everyone, and given the fact that patterns identified across a population of digital twins can lead to segmentation and discrimination. This duality calls for governance as this emerging technology matures, including measures that ensure transparency of data usage and derived benefits, and data privacy.
Digital Twins stands for a specific engineering paradigm, where individual physical artefacts are paired with a digital model that dynamically reflects the status of that artefact. When applied to persons, Digital Twins are an emerging technology that builds in silico representations of an individual that dynamically reflect molecular status, physiological status and life style over time.
We use Digital Twins as the hypothesis that one would be in the possession of very detailed bio-physical and lifestyle information of a person over time. This perspective redefines the concept of ‘normality’ or ‘health’, as a set of patterns that are regular for a particular individual, against the backdrop of patterns observed in the population. This perspective also will impact what is considered therapy and what is enhancement, as can be illustrated with the cases of the ‘asymptomatic ill’ and life extension via anti-ageing medicine. This changes are the consequence of how meaning is derived, in case measurement data is available. Moral distinctions namely will be based on patterns found in these data and the meanings that are grafted on these patterns.
Ethical and societal implications of Digital Twins are explored. Digital Twins imply a data-driven approach to health care. This approach has the potential to deliver significant societal benefits, and can function as a social equalizer, by allowing for effective equalizing enhancement interventions. It can as well though be a driver for inequality, given the fact that a digital twin might not be an accessible technology for everyone, and given the fact that patterns identified across a population of digital twins can lead to segmentation and discrimination. This duality calls for governance as this emerging technology matures, including measures that ensure transparency of data usage and derived benefits, and data privacy.
Bennati, Stefano; Dusparic, Ivana; Shinde, Rhythima; Jonker, Catholijn M
Volunteers in the Smart City: Comparison of Contribution Strategies on Human-Centered Measures Journal Article
In: Sensors, vol. 18, no. 11, 2018, ISSN: 1424-8220.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: artificial intelligence, big data, fairness, participatory sensing, privacy, public good, smart cities, value:justice
@article{s18113707,
title = {Volunteers in the Smart City: Comparison of Contribution Strategies on Human-Centered Measures},
author = {Stefano Bennati and Ivana Dusparic and Rhythima Shinde and Catholijn M Jonker},
url = {http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/18/11/3707},
doi = {10.3390/s18113707},
issn = {1424-8220},
year = {2018},
date = {2018-01-01},
urldate = {2018-01-01},
journal = {Sensors},
volume = {18},
number = {11},
abstract = {Provision of smart city services often relies on users contribution, e.g., of data, which can be costly for the users in terms of privacy. Privacy risks, as well as unfair distribution of benefits to the users, should be minimized as they undermine user participation, which is crucial for the success of smart city applications. This paper investigates privacy, fairness, and social welfare in smart city applications by means of computer simulations grounded on real-world data, i.e., smart meter readings and participatory sensing. We generalize the use of public good theory as a model for resource management in smart city applications, by proposing a design principle that is applicable across application scenarios, where provision of a service depends on user contributions. We verify its applicability by showing its implementation in two scenarios: smart grid and traffic congestion information system. Following this design principle, we evaluate different classes of algorithms for resource management, with respect to human-centered measures, i.e., privacy, fairness and social welfare, and identify algorithm-specific trade-offs that are scenario independent. These results could be of interest to smart city application designers to choose a suitable algorithm given a scenario-specific set of requirements, and to users to choose a service based on an algorithm that matches their privacy preferences.},
keywords = {artificial intelligence, big data, fairness, participatory sensing, privacy, public good, smart cities, value:justice},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Provision of smart city services often relies on users contribution, e.g., of data, which can be costly for the users in terms of privacy. Privacy risks, as well as unfair distribution of benefits to the users, should be minimized as they undermine user participation, which is crucial for the success of smart city applications. This paper investigates privacy, fairness, and social welfare in smart city applications by means of computer simulations grounded on real-world data, i.e., smart meter readings and participatory sensing. We generalize the use of public good theory as a model for resource management in smart city applications, by proposing a design principle that is applicable across application scenarios, where provision of a service depends on user contributions. We verify its applicability by showing its implementation in two scenarios: smart grid and traffic congestion information system. Following this design principle, we evaluate different classes of algorithms for resource management, with respect to human-centered measures, i.e., privacy, fairness and social welfare, and identify algorithm-specific trade-offs that are scenario independent. These results could be of interest to smart city application designers to choose a suitable algorithm given a scenario-specific set of requirements, and to users to choose a service based on an algorithm that matches their privacy preferences.
2017
Harbers, Maaike; Neerincx, Mark A.
Value sensitive design of a virtual assistant for workload harmonization in teams Journal Article
In: Cognition, Technology & Work, vol. 19, no. 2-3, pp. 329–343, 2017.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: human–computer interaction, privacy, situated cognitive engineering, teamwork, traffic control, value sensitive design, virtual assistant, workload
@article{Harbers2017,
title = {Value sensitive design of a virtual assistant for workload harmonization in teams},
author = {Maaike Harbers and Mark A. Neerincx},
url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10111-017-0408-4},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-03-25},
journal = {Cognition, Technology & Work},
volume = {19},
number = {2-3},
pages = {329–343},
abstract = {Uneven workload distributions in teams can lead to suboptimal team performance. This paper therefore describes the design of a virtual assistant that supports workload harmonization in teams by measuring workload, informing team members about their own and other team members’ workload, and supporting team members in the redistribution of workload. The virtual assistant was developed in the context of train traffic control according to the situated Cognitive Engineering (sCE) methodology, which was extended to allow for a value sensitive design process. More specifically, the values ‘insight,’ ‘helping others’ and ‘privacy’ were explicitly accounted for throughout the design of the virtual assistant. A prototype of the virtual assistant was evaluated positively in a focus group. Thereby, the contribution of the paper is twofold. First, an improvement in a human-centered development methodology—sCE with values—is described and its use is demonstrated in an actual design case. Second, a novel, positively evaluated solution for workload harmonization in teams is presented.},
keywords = {human–computer interaction, privacy, situated cognitive engineering, teamwork, traffic control, value sensitive design, virtual assistant, workload},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Uneven workload distributions in teams can lead to suboptimal team performance. This paper therefore describes the design of a virtual assistant that supports workload harmonization in teams by measuring workload, informing team members about their own and other team members’ workload, and supporting team members in the redistribution of workload. The virtual assistant was developed in the context of train traffic control according to the situated Cognitive Engineering (sCE) methodology, which was extended to allow for a value sensitive design process. More specifically, the values ‘insight,’ ‘helping others’ and ‘privacy’ were explicitly accounted for throughout the design of the virtual assistant. A prototype of the virtual assistant was evaluated positively in a focus group. Thereby, the contribution of the paper is twofold. First, an improvement in a human-centered development methodology—sCE with values—is described and its use is demonstrated in an actual design case. Second, a novel, positively evaluated solution for workload harmonization in teams is presented.
Hoven, Jeroen
Ethics for the Digital Age: Where Are the Moral Specs? Proceedings Article
In: Werthner, Hannes; Harmelen, Frank (Ed.): Informatics in the Future, pp. 65–76, Springer International Publishing, Cham, 2017, ISBN: 978-3-319-55735-9.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: computer ethics, data protection, digital ethics, privacy, responsible innovation, value sensitive design, value:justice
@inproceedings{10.1007/978-3-319-55735-9_6,
title = {Ethics for the Digital Age: Where Are the Moral Specs?},
author = {Jeroen Hoven},
editor = {Hannes Werthner and Frank Harmelen},
url = {https://link-springer-com.tudelft.idm.oclc.org/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-55735-9_6
https://www.delftdesignforvalues.nl/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Van-den-Hoven_Ethics-For-The-Digital-Age-Where-Are-the-Specs.pdf},
isbn = {978-3-319-55735-9},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-01-01},
urldate = {2017-01-01},
booktitle = {Informatics in the Future},
pages = {65–76},
publisher = {Springer International Publishing},
address = {Cham},
abstract = {In the middle of the twentieth century scholars in the social sciences and humanities have reflected on how the telegraph, the telephone and TV have shaped our societies (A good example is the work of Ithiel de Sola Pool in the mid twentieth century. See for example Politics in Wired Nations, Selected Writings, Transaction Publishers, London/New York.). In the last 30 years, researchers in a variety of disciplines such as technology assessment, computer ethics, information and library science, science and technology studies and cultural and media studies have conducted research into the way new media, computers and mobile phones have turned a wired society into a full-fledged digital society. In the last 10 years we have entered a new phase of the digital shaping of society. We are trying to come to grips with artificial intelligence, big data, social media, smart phones, robotics, the Internet of Things, apps and bots, self-driving cars, deep learning and brain interfaces. New digital technologies have now given rise to a hyper-connected society. IT is not only getting in between people, but it is also getting under our skin and into our heads—often literally. Our standard ways of keeping tabs on technology by means of information technology assessment, tech policy and regulation, soft law, ethical codes for IT professionals, ethical review boards (ERBs) for computer science research, standards and software maturity models and combinations thereof, are no longer sufficient to lead us to a responsible digital future. Our attempts to shape our technologies are often too late and too slow (e.g. by means of black letter law) or too little or too weak (e.g. codes of conduct). The field of privacy and data protection is an example of both. Data protection lawyers are constantly trying to catch up with the latest in big data analysis, the Internet of things, deep learning and sensor and cloud technology. On any given day, we often find ourselves trying to regulate the technology of tomorrow with legal regimes of yesterday. This gives rise to the question `How should we make our ethics bear upon high impact and dynamical digital phenomena?'},
keywords = {computer ethics, data protection, digital ethics, privacy, responsible innovation, value sensitive design, value:justice},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
In the middle of the twentieth century scholars in the social sciences and humanities have reflected on how the telegraph, the telephone and TV have shaped our societies (A good example is the work of Ithiel de Sola Pool in the mid twentieth century. See for example Politics in Wired Nations, Selected Writings, Transaction Publishers, London/New York.). In the last 30 years, researchers in a variety of disciplines such as technology assessment, computer ethics, information and library science, science and technology studies and cultural and media studies have conducted research into the way new media, computers and mobile phones have turned a wired society into a full-fledged digital society. In the last 10 years we have entered a new phase of the digital shaping of society. We are trying to come to grips with artificial intelligence, big data, social media, smart phones, robotics, the Internet of Things, apps and bots, self-driving cars, deep learning and brain interfaces. New digital technologies have now given rise to a hyper-connected society. IT is not only getting in between people, but it is also getting under our skin and into our heads—often literally. Our standard ways of keeping tabs on technology by means of information technology assessment, tech policy and regulation, soft law, ethical codes for IT professionals, ethical review boards (ERBs) for computer science research, standards and software maturity models and combinations thereof, are no longer sufficient to lead us to a responsible digital future. Our attempts to shape our technologies are often too late and too slow (e.g. by means of black letter law) or too little or too weak (e.g. codes of conduct). The field of privacy and data protection is an example of both. Data protection lawyers are constantly trying to catch up with the latest in big data analysis, the Internet of things, deep learning and sensor and cloud technology. On any given day, we often find ourselves trying to regulate the technology of tomorrow with legal regimes of yesterday. This gives rise to the question `How should we make our ethics bear upon high impact and dynamical digital phenomena?'