The internet: a framework for understanding ethical issues.

The impact and influence of the Internet as a communications medium cannot be overstated. It has had a profound effect on economic, political, and other social infrastructures, and has introduced ways of communicating which have transformed social relationships. The Internet has opened up information exchange on a global scale, offering enormous opportunities and advantages to an hitherto unknown degree. The Internet has also raised a number of serious, and urgent, ethical challenges. The discussions and debate surrounding ethical issues such as trust, security and privacy, amongst others, conducted at all levels (international, government, academia and the popular press) in themselves are evidence of the complexity of the problem of Internet ethics. The research unravels some of the complexity and muddle of Internet ethics, with the objective of providing a foundation for further research. This thesis offers four perspectives on the problems of Internet ethics: technical, conceptual, regulatory and ethical. These different viewpoints are not only useful in drawing out insights concerning the ethical framework of the Internet, they also provide leverage for the analysis of pertinent issues. The work in this thesis thus offers a framework for understanding, and analysis, which can be developed and used in continuing investigations. The research is a combination of theory and practice - both informing each other. The approach taken arose from the author's direct involvement in many of the expert discussions and debates which (together with the literature), identified a need for foundational work. In-depth work with a number of specialised groups has provided the practical backdrop, and grounding to this research - published results appear as Appendices

The Knowledge Grid: A Platform to Increase the Interoperability of Computable Knowledge and Produce Advice for Health

Here we demonstrate how more highly interoperable computable knowledge enables systems to generate large quantities of evidence-based advice for health. We first provide a thorough analysis of advice. Then, because advice derives from knowledge, we turn our focus to computable, i.e., machine-interpretable, forms for knowledge. We consider how computable knowledge plays dual roles as a resource conveying content and as an advice enabler. In this latter role, computable knowledge is combined with data about a decision situation to generate advice targeted at the pending decision. We distinguish between two types of automated services. When a computer system provides computable knowledge, we say that it provides a knowledge service. When computer system combines computable knowledge with instance data to provide advice that is specific to an unmade decision we say that it provides an advice-giving service. The work here aims to increase the interoperability of computable knowledge to bring about better knowledge services and advice-giving services for health. The primary motivation for this research is the problem of missing or inadequate advice about health topics. The global demand for well-informed health advice far exceeds the global supply. In part to overcome this scarcity, the design and development of Learning Health Systems is being pursued at various levels of scale: local, regional, state, national, and international. Learning Health Systems fuse capabilities to generate new computable biomedical knowledge with other capabilities to rapidly and widely use computable biomedical knowledge to inform health practices and behaviors with advice. To support Learning Health Systems, we believe that knowledge services and advice-giving services have to be more highly interoperable. I use examples of knowledge services and advice-giving services which exclusively support medication use. This is because I am a pharmacist and pharmacy is the biomedical domain that I know. The examples here address the serious problems of medication adherence and prescribing safety. Two empirical studies are shared that demonstrate the potential to address these problems and make improvements by using advice. But primarily we use these examples to demonstrate general and critical differences between stand-alone, unique approaches to handling computable biomedical knowledge, which make it useful for one system, and common, more highly interoperable approaches, which can make it useful for many heterogeneous systems. Three aspects of computable knowledge interoperability are addressed: modularity, identity, and updateability. We demonstrate that instances of computable knowledge, and related instances of knowledge services and advice-giving services, can be modularized. We also demonstrate the utility of uniquely identifying modular instances of computable knowledge. Finally, we build on the computing concept of pipelining to demonstrate how computable knowledge modules can automatically be updated and rapidly deployed. Our work is supported by a fledgling technical knowledge infrastructure platform called the Knowledge Grid. It includes formally specified compound digital objects called Knowledge Objects, a conventional digital Library that serves as a Knowledge Object repository, and an Activator that provides an application programming interface (API) for computable knowledge. The Library component provides knowledge services. The Activator component provides both knowledge services and advice-giving services. In conclusion, by increasing the interoperability of computable biomedical knowledge using the Knowledge Grid, we demonstrate new capabilities to generate well-informed health advice at a scale. These new capabilities may ultimately support Learning Health Systems and boost health for large populations of people who would otherwise not receive well-informed health advice.PHDInformationUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146073/1/ajflynn_1.pd

A WEB-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL TOOLKIT TO SUPPORT SMES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

With small and medium sized-enterprises (SMEs) taking up the majority of the global businesses, it is important they act in an environmentally responsible manner. Environmental management systems (EMS) help companies evaluate and improve their environmental impact but they often require human, financial, and temporary resources that not all SMEs can afford. This research encompasses interviews with representatives of two small enterprises in Germany to provide insights into their understanding, and knowledge of an EMS and how they perceive their responsibility towards the environment. Furthermore, it presents a toolkit created especially for small and medium-sized enterprises. It serves as a simplified version of an EMS based on the ISO 14001 standard and is evaluated by target users and appropriate representatives. Some of the findings are: while open to the idea of improving their environmental impact, SMEs do not always feel it is their responsibility to do so; they seem to lack the means to fully implement an EMS. The developed toolkit is considered useful and usable and recommendations are drawn for its future enhancement

ENERGY CONSUMPTION OF MOBILE PHONES

Battery consumption in mobile applications development is a very important aspect and has to be considered by all the developers in their applications. This study will present an analysis of different relevant concepts and parameters that may have an impact on energy consumption of Windows Phone applications. This operating system was chosen because limited research related thereto has been conducted, even though there are related studies for Android and iOS operating systems. Furthermore, another reason is the increasing number of Windows Phone users. The objective of this research is to categorise the energy consumption parameters (e.g. use of one thread or several threads for the same output). The result for each group of experiments will be analysed and a rule will be derived. The set of derived rules will serve as a guide for developers who intend to develop energy efficient Windows Phone applications. For each experiment, one application is created for each concept and the results are presented in two ways; a table and a chart. The table presents the duration of the experiment, the battery consumed in the experiment, the expected battery lifetime, and the energy consumption, while the charts display the energy distribution based on the main threads: UI thread, application thread, and network thread

Measuring the impact of digital resources: the balanced value impact model

The Balanced Value Impact Model (BVI Model) draws evidence from a wide range of sources to provide a compelling account of the means of measuring the impact of digital resources and using evidence to advocate how change benefits people. The aim is to provide key information and a strong model for the following primary communities of use: the cultural, heritage, academic or creative industries.For the purposes of this report, the definition of Impact is:The measurable outcomes arising from the existence of a digital resource that demonstrate a change in the life or life opportunities of the community for which the resource is intended.The outcome of this cross disciplinary research is a new and targeted model of Impact Assessment for the primary communities of use identified above. The Balanced Value Impact Model brings together aspects from disparate Impact Assessment communities into a cohesive and logical process for Impact Assessment.The Balanced Value Impact Model is intended to aid the thinking and decision making of those wishing to engage in Impact Assessment. It also acts as a guide through the process of Impact Assessment to enable the core values most appropriate to the assessment to be brought to the fore and given a balanced consideration when evaluating outcomes. It presumes that the assessment will be measuring change within an ecosystem for a digital resource

The DARPA Model for Transformative Technologies

"The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has played a remarkable role in the creation new transformative technologies, revolutionizing defense with drones and precision-guided munitions, and transforming civilian life with portable GPS receivers, voice-recognition software, self-driving cars, unmanned aerial vehicles, and, most famously, the ARPANET and its successor, the Internet. Other parts of the U.S. Government and some foreign governments have tried to apply the ‘DARPA model’ to help develop valuable new technologies. But how and why has DARPA succeeded? Which features of its operation and environment contribute to this success? And what lessons does its experience offer for other U.S. agencies and other governments that want to develop and demonstrate their own ‘transformative technologies’? This book is a remarkable collection of leading academic research on DARPA from a wide range of perspectives, combining to chart an important story from the Agency’s founding in the wake of Sputnik, to the current attempts to adapt it to use by other federal agencies. Informative and insightful, this guide is essential reading for political and policy leaders, as well as researchers and students interested in understanding the success of this agency and the lessons it offers to others.

Peer production of Open Hardware: Unfinished artifacts and architectures in the hackerspaces

The dissertation adopts the theoretical framework of peer production to investigate the phenomena of open collaboration in hacker clubs through two case studies of small scale electronic artefacts. A critique of current theories of peer production is developed from a Science and Technology Studies point of view, arguing for the primacy of social constructivism over technological determinist narratives about the role of ICTs in late capitalism in general and hacker culture in particular. Properties of disruptive novelty and spontaneous emergence routinely attributed to ICTs – and by extension to the peer production practices of hackers – are approached sceptically with a historically informed ethnographic method that concentrates on continuities and contexts.La tesis adopta el marco teórico de la producción entre iguales para investigar los fenómenos de colaboración abierta en los clubs de hackers, a través de dos estudios de caso sobre artefactos electrónicos de pequeña escala. Se desarrolla una crítica de las teorías actuales sobre la producción entre iguales desde el punto de vista de los Estudios de Ciencia y Tecnología, defendiendo la primacía de la visión constructivista social por encima de las narrativas deterministas tecnológicas en el papel de las TIC en el capitalismo tardío, en general, y en la cultura hacker en particular. Nociones como la novedad perturbadora y la aparición espontánea, atribuidas habitualmente a las TIC y, por extensión, a las prácticas de producción entre iguales de los hackers, se tratan con escepticismo mediante un método etnográfico históricamente informado, que se concentra en las continuidades y contextos.La tesi adopta el marc teòric de la producció entre iguals per investigar els fenòmens de col·laboració oberta als clubs de hackers, a través de dos estudis de cas sobre artefactes electrònics de petita escala. S’hi desenvolupa una crítica de les teories actuals sobre la producció entre iguals des del punt de vista dels Estudis de Ciència i Tecnologia, defensant la primacia de la visió constructivista social per sobre de les narratives deterministes tecnològiques en el paper de les TIC en el capitalisme tardà, en general, i en la cultura hacker en particular. Nocions com la novetat pertorbadora i l’aparició espontània, atribuïdes habitualment a les TIC i, per extensió, a les pràctiques de producció entre iguals dels hackers, es tracten amb escepticisme mitjançant un mètode etnogràfic històricament informat, que es concentra en les continuïtats i els contextos.Societat de la informació i el coneixemen

Bridging the Gap at Ecosystem Level : Enhancing Business Model Innovation in Internet of Things-Enabled Platform Ecosystems

Digitaalinen murros haastaa yrityksiä ja yhteisöjä tarjoamaan innovatiivisia palveluita asiakkailleen ja lisäämään omaa kannattavuuttaan uusia liiketoimintamalleja luomalla. Esineiden internet (IoT) on tunnistettu potentiaaliseksi uudenlaisen arvon mahdollistajaksi. Odotetuista hyödyistä huolimatta onnistuneesti toteutettuja IoT:llä varustettuja alustaekosysteemejä on toistaiseksi vähän. IoT-tutkimus on pääosin keskittynyt teknologisten edistysaskeleiden ottamiseen, kun taas liiketoimintamallien innovaatioiden merkitys on suurelta osin sivuutettu. On kuitenkin muistettava, että teknologian onnistunut käyttöönotto on suurelta osin kiinni hyvin määritellystä liiketoimintamallista ja sen arvolupauksen onnistuneisuudesta Sosiaalisen vaihdannan teoria (SET) on olennainen IoT:llä varustettujen alustaekosysteemien kontekstissa. Sen mukaan toimijoiden tulee kokea arvon vaihtaminen oikeudenmukaiseksi eli kokea saamansa arvo riittäväksi tekemiinsä panostuksiin nähden. Tätä teoreettista viitekehystä hyödynnettiin tässä tutkimuksessa selvitettäessä, miten digitaalisen murroksen aikoina liiketoimintamallien innovointia (BMI) voitaisiin parantaa IoT:llä varustetuissa alustaekosysteemeissä. Siten toimijoiden pysyvyyttä voitaisiin parantaa ja verkostojen ulkoisvaikutuksia lisätä. Tämän tutkimuksen tulokset lisäävät teoreettista ymmärrystä arvon vaihtamisesta IoT:tä hyödyntävien alustaekosysteemien kontekstissa. Tutkimuksessa tunnistettiin sosiaalisen arvon dimensiolle kaksi erilaista tulkintaa. Tutkimuksen perusteella voidaan myös todeta, etteivät teoriat – saati käytännön tekijät – huomioi ehdollista arvoa alustakontekstissa. Tutkimus tunnisti monitieteellisesti IoT:n ja alustaekosysteemien liiketoimintamalli-innovaatioiden luomiseen tarvittavat osat. Lisäksi tutkimuksessa luotiin uusi malli BMI:lle, joka yhdistää kaksi uutta työkalua eli ekosysteemin arvotaseen ja alustakanvaasin. Käyttämällä mallia iteratiivisesti strategisena työkaluna luodaan arvokasta näkemystä ekosysteemin toimijoille, minkä avulla he voivat luoda yhdessä yhteisen arvolupauksen ja mahdollistaa positiiviset verkostovaikutukset. Lisäksi tämä tutkimus edistää tutkimusmenetelmiä esittämällä uuden tavan tarkentaa konseptien ominaisuuksia kirjallisuuskatsauksen avulla. Parannettu menetelmä on yhdistelmä lumipallomenetelmää, Porter sanarunkohaku-algoritmia ja temaattista analyysiä. Näitä hyödyntämällä voidaan luoda kattava ja strukturoitu synteesi oleellisesta kirjallisuudesta ja edistää monivivahteisempaa ja syvempää ymmärrystä tutkimusaiheesta. Menetelmää voidaan hyödyntää myös muilla tutkimusalueilla täsmällisten kirjallisuuskatsausten tekemiseen. Tämä tutkimus avaa väylän arvolupausten arvioinnin tutkimiseen IoT:llä varustetuissa alustaekosysteemeissä. Lisää tutkimusta kuitenkin tarvitaan ennen kuin liiketoimintamahdollisuudet realisoituvat odotetusti. Ehdotettua mallia tulee tutkia vielä useammilla ja pidempikestoisilla tapaustutkimuksilla. Lisäksi monialainen tutkimus voisi tunnistaa yhtäläisyyksiä ja eroavaisuuksia IoT:llä varustettujen alustaekosysteemien haasteissa ja mahdollisuuksissa. Lisäksi tulisi tutkia, miten uudet ja tulevat teknologiat vaikuttavat arvolupauksen muodostamiseen ja arvon tuottamiseen. Tämän tutkimuksen tuloksissa korostetaan ekosysteemissä toimimisen vaatimaa kulttuurimuutosta. Perinteisesti yritykset ovat keskittyneet oman voittonsa maksimoimiseen, mutta ekosysteemeissä tulisi keskittyä koko ekosysteemin kokonaisarvon maksimoimiseen. Tämän kulttuurimuutoksen tarvetta ja sitä, miten muutos voitaisiin saada aikaan, tulisi tutkia lisää. Yhteenvetona voidaankin todeta, että tämä tutkimus edistää niin liiketoimintamallien innovoinnin teoriaa kuin käytäntöjäkin IoT:llä varustetuissa alustaekosysteemeissä. Se tarjoaa BMI-mallin, joka rakentuu ekosysteemin arvotaseen ympärille. Se mahdollistaa ketterän mallin, jolla IoT:llä varustetun alustaekosysteemin toimijat voivat iteratiivisesti luoda ja kehittää arvolupaustaan. Tämä tutkimus myös kirkastaa käsittelemiään konsepteja ja tarjoaa tuoreen lähestymistavan kirjallisuuskatsauksen tekemiseen. Tämä tutkimus voi auttaa yrityksiä ja yhteisöjä ymmärtämään liiketoimintamallien innovoinnin merkityksen ja näin johtaa ne luomaan kestävämpiä ja kannattavampia ekosysteemejä.Digital transformation is challenging businesses and societies to offer innovative services to customers and to increase profitability through the development of new business models. The Internet of Things (IoT) has been identified as a potent enabler for novel services and businesses. However, despite the potential benefits, successful implementation of IoT-enabled platform ecosystems remains scarce. Research on IoT has mainly focused on technological advancements, while the importance of business model innovation has been largely overlooked. The research in the field of IoT has predominantly focused on technological advancements, disregarding the critical aspect of business model innovation. However, successful implementation of technology largely relies on a well-defined business model that delivers outstanding value propositions. Social Exchange Theory (SET) is a theoretical framework that is pertinent in the context of IoT-enabled platform ecosystems. According to SET, actors in value exchange should find the distribution of value equitable vis-à-vis the effort invested in value creation. Therefore, in the present research, SET is adopted as a conceptual framework to explore how ecosystem-level business model innovation (BMI) in IoT-enabled platform ecosystems could be enhanced to increase actor retention, and to internalize network externalities to increase the positive network effects during times of digital transformation. The contribution of this research extends beyond the theoretical development of value exchange in the context of IoT-enabled platform ecosystems. This research identifies two different views of social value and recognizes that in the ecosystem context, conditional value is often overlooked in theoretical discussion and neglected by practitioners. This research also contributes to BMI theories in the IoT-enabled platform ecosystem context by identifying, in an interdisciplinary manner, the required building blocks, i.e., characteristics of a platform ecosystem BMI, and IoT. Further, a model for BMI is created, which combines two novel frameworks, namely, the Ecosystem Value Balance and the Platform Canvas. This provides ecosystem actors with valuable insights to co-create a joint value proposition and enable positive network effects by utilizing the model iteratively as a strategic tool. In addition, this research advances research methodologies by presenting a novel approach to clarifying concepts through literature reviews. The method involves a combination of snowballing, Porter stemming, and thematic analysis, which enables a comprehensive and structured synthesis of relevant literature and promotes a more nuanced and deeper understanding of the research topic. This approach can be applied in other research fields, too, to achieve more rigorous and accurate literature reviews. Although this research opens up avenues for researching value proposition evaluation in IoT-enabled ecosystems, more attention to the business opportunities that can be realized is necessary. The proposed model needs validation with more and longer-term cases, and a cross-industry study could explore potential similarities and differences in the challenges and opportunities of IoT platform ecosystems. Moreover, further research is required to validate the proposed model, explore potential similarities and differences in IoT platform ecosystems, and investigate the role of emerging technologies in shaping the value proposition and value creation processes. Further, the research emphasizes the need for cultural change in companies operating in ecosystems, as traditionally companies have focused on maximizing their profits instead of maximizing the overall value for the whole ecosystem. In conclusion, this research contributes to the theory and practice of business model innovation in IoT-enabled platform ecosystems by offering a BMI model which relies on value balance in ecosystem contexts and proposes a model for IoT platform ecosystem actors to co-create joint value propositions. It also clarifies related concepts and offers a novel approach to literature reviews. This research can help businesses and societies to understand the importance of business model innovation and to create a more sustainable and profitable ecosystem