I was trying to classify unintended negative consequences of new technologies, with the idea that this would help predict what they might be for current and future innovations. With a better understanding of potential downsides we might have better chance at solving or addressing them in advance.
Kevin Kelly wrote a good post putting the effects into 2 classes: “Class 1 problems are due to it not working perfectly. Class 2 problems are due to it working perfectly.”
What are the categories one level down? Here are the ones I could come up with but I’d love to hear other thoughts:
Large scaling effects—no issue at small scale usage but at large scale bad
Harmful waste product
Over reliance on use (makes users fragile) -- probably true of most tech
Unsustainable inputs
Maladaptive health—adds or removes something our bodies aren’t used to and can’t adapt to over 1 generation
[Question] How can we classify negative effects of new technologies?
Riffing off of Jason’s recent post on progress safety . . .
I was trying to classify unintended negative consequences of new technologies, with the idea that this would help predict what they might be for current and future innovations. With a better understanding of potential downsides we might have better chance at solving or addressing them in advance.
Kevin Kelly wrote a good post putting the effects into 2 classes: “Class 1 problems are due to it not working perfectly. Class 2 problems are due to it working perfectly.”
What are the categories one level down? Here are the ones I could come up with but I’d love to hear other thoughts:
Large scaling effects—no issue at small scale usage but at large scale bad
Harmful waste product
Over reliance on use (makes users fragile) -- probably true of most tech
Unsustainable inputs
Maladaptive health—adds or removes something our bodies aren’t used to and can’t adapt to over 1 generation
Increases mimetic rivalry
Destroys existing stable social systems