Slow Tech: a quest for good, clean and fair ICT
| Published date | 06 May 2014 |
| Pages | 78-92 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JICES-11-2013-0051 |
| Date | 06 May 2014 |
| Author | Norberto Patrignani,Diane Whitehouse |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Information management & governance |
Slow Tech: a quest for good,
clean and fair ICT
Norberto Patrignani
Politecnico of Torino, Torino, Italy, and
Diane Whitehouse
The Castlegate Consultancy, Malton, UK
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to introduce the term Slow Tech as a way of describing
information and communication technology (ICT) that is good, clean and fair. These are technologies
that are human centred, environmentally sustainable and socially desirable.
Design/methodology/approach – The paper’s approach is based on a qualitative discourse that
justifies the introduction of Slow Tech as a new design paradigm.
Findings – The limits of the human body, and the need to take into account human wellbeing, the
limits of the planet and stakeholders’ interests in decision making, all suggest the need for a new
paradigm, Slow Tech, in the design of ICT and ICT systems. Three scenarios are described as case
studies.
Practical implications – In order to prepare the next generation of researchers and computer
professionals, many different actions need to be taken. Universities and colleges need to redesign
education programmes for computer scientists and engineers by introducing subjects related to the
social and ethical implications of computing (currently, only few countries, like the UK, have already
done this), and computer professionals’ associations need to introduce a code of ethics or ethical
analysis into their members’ career development. As a result, future computer professionals who are
familiar with the Slow Tech approach will be able to collaborate much more easily across the kind of
cross disciplinary teams suited to design human centred, sustainable and desirable technologies.
Social implications – Rather than simply focusing on the role of computer professionals, all
members of society are called to play a new role in the design of future ICT scenarios. Starting a
societal dialogue that involves computer professionals, users, researchers, designers,
ICT industrialists, and policy makers is very much needed.
Originality/value – The value of this paper is in its call for reflection followed by action. Based on
an holistic approach to the design of new ICT systems, the paper advocates a new starting point for
systems design: it should be based on a long-term view of the desirability and social importance of
technologies, their environmental impact and sustainability, and the fairness and equity of the
conditions of workers involved in the computing manufacturing processes.
Keywords Cleant ICT, Environmentally sustainable, Ethically acceptable, Fair ICT, Good ICT,
Slow Tech
Paper type Conceptual paper
1. Introduction
We are returning to a set of observations, made in some cases a 150 years ago, but
which started to reach mainstream awareness some 50 years ago.
The concept of the limits to growth were first applied to the planetary environment,
whereas today questions are being posed about continuing inform ation and
communication technologies (ICT) development. ICT, and the encouragement of the
rapid expansion of technologies, have always been the most dramatic, tech nical
representation of the Olympic motto, “citius, altius, fortius” (faster, higher, stro nger).
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/1477-996X.htm
Received 23 November 2013
Revised 19 December 2013
Accepted 20 December 2013
Journal of Information,
Communication and Ethics in Society
Vol. 12 No. 2, 2014
pp. 78-92
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
1477-996X
DOI 10.1108/JICES-11-2013-0051
JICES
12,2
78
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