Possible lessons from a recent technology (Nuclear) for an emerging (Ubiquitous Embedded Systems) technology
| Date | 30 November 2004 |
| Published date | 30 November 2004 |
| Pages | 225-234 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/14779960480000255 |
| Author | David J. LePoire |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management |
Possible Lessons from a
Recent Technology (Nuclear) for an Emerging
(Ubiquitous Embedded Systems) Technology
I NT R O D U C T I O N
Information Technology !IT" has ushered
in not only large societal opportunities but
also large uncertainties and risks !Berlind,
2003". Future developments, like ubiqui-
tous netwo r ked embedded systems, are
technologies society may face. Such tech-
nologies offer larger opportunities and
uncertainties because of their ability to
w i d e l y dist ribute power thro ugh their
small, inexpensive, and ubiquitous charac-
teristics. One way of characterizing the new
technol ogies is Genetics, Ro b o t i c s ,
Artificial Intelligence, and Nanotechnology
!GRAIN" !Mu l h a l l, 2002". Ne t wo r ke d
embedded technology might be considered
an extension of information te c h n o l o g y,
which deals with large networks of small
computing devices. As the GRAIN tech-
nologies converge, the embedded systems
probably will utilize artificial intelligence
techniques on a nanotechnology scale, with
p o tential connections to human brains.
Info, Comm & Ethics in Society (2004) 2: 225–234
© 2004 Troubador Publishing Ltd.
KEYWORDS
Risks
Uncertainty
Embedded
Precautionary
principle
David J. LePoire
Environmental Assessment Division, Argonne National Laborator y
Email: dlepoire@anl.gov
COVERAGE
Information Te c h n o l o g y !I T " has ushered in not only large societal opportunities but also large uncertain -
ties and risks. Future developments, like ubiquitous networked embedded sys t e m s, are technologies society
may fa c e. Such technologies offer larger opportunities and uncertainties because of their ability to widely
distribute power through their small, inexpensive, and ubiquitous cha ra c t e r i s t i c s. Many interpretations of
how these technologies may develop have been postulated, ranging from the conservative Preca u t i o n a ry
P r i n c i p l e, to uncontrolled development leading to “s i n g u l a r i t y.” With so much uncertainty and so many
predictions about the benefits and consequences of these technologies, it is important to raise ethical ques -
t i o n s, determine potential scenarios, and try to identify appropriate decision points and stakeholders.
Rather than going along an unknown path, perhaps lessons could be learned from recently deployed tech -
n o l o g i e s, such as nuclear technology, that were controversial but offered similarly large potential benefits
and risks. The experience of nuclear technology development, with its various successes and fa i l u r e s, is
r e called and compared with potential scenarios in the development of networked embedded sys t e m s
A B ST RAC T
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