Psychology and Sustainability, Homo Technicusand Slow Tech

Psychology and Sustainability, Homo Technicus and Slow TechIn previous issues of Visions for Sustainabilitywe have often published papers that consider the relationship between psychology and sustainability. On the one hand, researchers have examined various aspects of the incompatibility between how human societies and individuals behave in order to satisfy their needs and their desires and the natural processes that are essential for maintaining ecological balance and integrity, both for the people themselves and the environments they inhabit. Problems of sustainability are clearly related to human behaviours and therefore are a part of the psychological sphere. Studies have often focused on examining ways of promoting pro-environmental and reducing anti-environmental behaviours

How to Reduce Complexity in the Licensing Landscape of Standardised Technology

The innovation ecosystem is a fundamental driver of economic development and societal wellbeing. For this reason, key innovations such as 5G and IoT (Internet of Things), which are expected to bring significant benefits to our society and the world economy, should be supported by a standardization effort that allows different infrastructures, services and devices to interoperate in order to facilitate the diffusion and widespread deployment of new technologies on the market and avoid the risk of lock-in into competing, proprietary technologies. Standardization is fundamental to allow interoperability and the worldwide success of new technologies. Standardization bodies have the technical and administrative task to choose the best technology made available by innovators who participate in the standardization efforts. The latter are then rewarded for their contributions to standardization through patent licensing. However, with the ever-increasing complexity in technological standards, licensing activities are often quite complicated, and this causes friction between patent owners and implementers. The article proposes how to solve this complex situation, analysing the role of the FRAND commitment; which factors to be considered when setting a FRAND royalty rate; and how the different interests of innovators (patent owners/licensors) and implementers (licensees) should be well balanced, by means of patent pooling, or injunctions, thus promoting the level playing field that is at the core of fair market competition. This article offers insights from leading market participants who have engaged in licensing of standard essential patents, are developing frameworks to address the challenges of licensing of new technologies covering Internet of Things and application of cellular technologies in the automotive sector; and have actively litigated cases that help shape today’s negotiating process for SEPs. The first part of this article describes Europe’s ambitions in its Digital Agenda and sets out the Inventive Loop (a company’s R&D resulting in patented innovations that when standardised can be licensed for royalties that in turn fund further R&D). It then summarizes the exclusive right available to a patent owner, subject to compulsory licensing and to the holder’s FRAND promise if his innovation is essential to a standard. The article goes on to examines different methodologies for calculating a FRAND royalty rate and its application to new industrial sectors, such as through the adoption by automakers of new cellular mobility technologies. The final part of the article discusses two mechanisms to promote SEP licensing: the judicially created framework for SEP licensing negotiations (as recently set out in Sisvel v Haier) and in patent pools. It assesses a further recent judicial development – anti-suit injunctions – where the exercise of jurisdiction by one court may be harmful to the sovereignty of another. Alternative dispute resolution processes, such as arbitration, may provide a mechanism to resolve global FRAND licensing disputes and reduce these territorial conflicts. The article notes that standard setting organizations could serve as a platform to foster pool formation and to encourage arbitration

The safe administration of medication within the electromagnetic scenarios of the Internet of Things (IoT): looking towards the future

This paper has focused on analyzing the impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to prevent or reduce errors during therapeutic drug administration. The methodology used has included scientific literature and marketed appliances reviews and laboratory tests on radiant devices. The role of the patient has been analyzed, both in terms of compliance with the prescribed treatments and user of technical solutions designed for administering medication. In addition, it has taken into account, how a future characterized by multiple technologies designed to support our daily routines, including health care, might affect the current model of relationship between health professionals and patients. Particular attention has been given to safety risks of ICTs in environments characterized by concurrent electromagnetic emissions operating at different frequencies. Implications and new scenarios from Internet of Things or IoT, have been considered, in light of the approach taken jointly by the European Commission and the European Technology Platform on Intelligent Systems Integration – EPoSS, in their 2008 report Internet of Things in 2020: a roadmap for the future, and how the concept has evolved since then.Chapter 1. Adverse drug events. Chapter 2. ICTs in everyday life and healthcare. Chapter 3. the challenge of electromagnetic safety. Chapter 4. ICTs in health care and in the prevention of medication errors: IoT. Chapter 5. A more effective and safer alternative approach. Chapter 6. Technological proposal 7. Conclusions.N

Pursuing financial stability under an inflation-targeting regime

We evaluate two main views on pursuing financial stability within a flexible inflation targeting regime. It appears that potential gains from an activist or precautionary approach to promoting financial stability are highly shock dependent. We find support for the conventional view that concern for financial stability generally warrants a longer target horizon for inflation. The preferred target horizon depends on the financial stability indicator and the shock. An extension of the target horizon favoring financial stability may contribute to relatively higher variation in inflation and output.Monetary policy, financial stability