Possible Development Paths of Tactile Internet: Ethical Perspectives

Abstract

In this article, we will reflect on the methodologies of ethical technology assessment (TA cf. Grunwald 2010), accompanying research projects focusing on tactile internet solutions with humans in the loop (TaHIL). We outline how TA might be oriented towards a set of prima facie values (Beauchamp & Childress, 2013) that address possible implications and consequences of technology use. This framework shall be applied to the development of tactile Internet technology treating such technology as a special kind of cyber-physical system. Because the impact of technical developments and their unintended consequences cannot be anticipated from the outset, it is all the more important to address ethically relevant aspects right from the start in research projects that develop TaHIL-applications.:1. Aim of the basic research in Technology Assessment 2. TA as an integrative part of the iterative research approach 3. Responsible Research and Innovation: three dimensional Path Developments 4. Dilemmata in the democratization of skills 5. Work systems within the framework of TaHIL technologies 6. Implementation process 7. Conclusio