[IxDA Discuss] Ethical Issues for Interaction Designers

[Oleh Kovalchuke]

Thomas J. Froehlich wrote:
>
>  If you were created a code of ethics, what would it
> distinctively include?   I would appreciate any thoughts, cases or
> examples.
>
I think we should create a code of ethics for IxDA. Something in the vein of
Asimov's laws of robotics:
   0. A product may not harm humanity, or, by inaction, allow humanity to
come to harm.
   1. A product may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a
human being to come to harm except where such orders would conflict with the
Zeroth Law.
   2. A product must obey orders given to it by human beings except where
such orders would conflict with the previous laws.
   3. A product must protect its own existence as long as such protection
does not conflict with the previous laws.

I do not expect that the code will change the minds of those, who have their
minds set. However I think it might serve as a good frame reminder to those
of us, who opt to delegate moral responsibility to higher authority, because
we are too busy to think about the consequences of this delegation.

The code will not stop production of unethical products, but it could lead
to making them more expensive, less profitable.
Oleh


-- 
Oleh Kovalchuke
Interaction Design is the Design of Time
http://www.tangospring.com/IxDtopicWhatIsInteractionDesign.htm