Seminar 

Our weeklong seminar "Praxisseminar: Ethik in der Mensch-Maschine Interaktion" (6.-9.2.2024 – seminar description), focusing on the crucial role of ethics in human-machine interaction, kicked off on a Tuesday. It united a small, dynamic group of seven students and one lecturer, all of us eager to dive into the ethical quandaries that technology presents, especially as it becomes more intertwined with daily life.

The first day set the tone with an educational video that highlighted the importance of ethics in our interactions with technology. This sparked an engaging discussion among us, laying the groundwork for the hands-on work ahead. We organized into groups, aiming to analyze various ethical tools designed to guide technology projects. Our analysis revolved around several key aspects: the methods these tools suggested, the ideal timing for their application, the specific issues they addressed, the outcomes they aimed to achieve, their suitability for different products or services, and their intended audience.

The seminar's focus extended beyond just the analytical; it embraced inclusivity and diversity, particularly with a midweek lecture on making technology more accessible and friendly towards LGBTQIA+ communities. This discussion, centering on non-binary inclusive website design, was enlightening, pushing us to consider the broad spectrum of users interacting with technology.

As the week progressed, we delved deeper into our project. By Thursday, we were in the thick of finalizing our evaluations of the ethical tools at our disposal. A crucial meeting at midday allowed us to share and categorize our findings, setting the stage for the next phase: turning our insights into a tangible output. The afternoon buzzed with activity as we outlined the tasks necessary to bring our project to life in the form of a website. We divided duties, focusing on design elements like icons and color palettes, as well as content creation for the seminar text and a welcoming message for visitors.

The culmination of our efforts was on Friday when we put the finishing touches on our website. It was a day marked by fine-tuning and collaboration, ensuring that every element of the site was polished and ready for public viewing. By the seminar's close, we had successfully created a comprehensive website that encapsulated our journey through the ethical landscape of human-machine interaction.

This seminar was transformative, blending theoretical discussions with practical applications. It was a deep dive into the ethical considerations essential to technology design and deployment, encouraging us to think critically about the impact of our work on users and society at large. Our final product, the website, stands as a testament to our collective endeavor—a resource that we hope will inspire others to approach technology with an ethical mindset.

In the end, the seminar was more than just an academic exercise; it was a collaborative exploration of how to make technology more ethical, inclusive, and respectful of all users. Through our discussions, research, and the creation of the website, we've taken meaningful steps toward understanding and addressing the ethical challenges that come with advancing technology.

Why Ethics in Human Computer Interaction?

The impact of digital technology on our society is getting more and more problematic. Therefore the role of ethics in technology projects is getting more and more important.

These movies from the Center for Humane Technology show some of these growing challenges:

The Social Dilemma

thesocialdilemma.com

The A.I. Dilemma