Hofkirchner et. al.: ICTs and Society: The Salzburg Approach

Hofkirchner, Wolfgang, Fuchs, Christian, Raffl, Celina, Schafranek, Matthias, Sandoval, Marisol, & Bichler, Robert (2007). ICTs and Society: The Salzburg Approach. Towards a Theory for, about, and my means of the Information Society

There is an increasingly important role being played by ICT in the social sciences. This article, in part, attempts to identify exactly what that role should be. It argues that ICT should be understood as a “transdiscipline”. It is a unique position taken by the Salzburg University that involves the creation of a center to promote ICT as a distinct discipline.

“By the term transdiscipline we mean something distinct from the term inter-discipline. This in two respects: first in the respect of the scientific status and second in the respect of the societal function” (7). In regards to the scientific status referred to in the above quote, the transdiscipline nature of ICT should be a transgression of different barriers that have been historically established between disciplines. This should also work as a force to “bridge several gaps” that exist between both natural and social sciences, involving the gap between specialists and generalist and the gap between basic and applied research. Regarding the societal function discussed in the quote at the beginning of this paragraph, “…the concept of a transciscipline does not adhere to the long held assumption of science being in an ivory tower, but implies a transgression from the scientist to the stakeholders affected by the results of research and a transformation into a new science that is human-centered, democratic, participatory” (12).

The future of information society, or the future information society, however you would like to construct the sentence as they are both highly correlative, can be assessed scientifically in three ways: through its aims, scopes and tools. The aims, “…would have to serve the practical purpose of meeting the demand for governance which has been rising exorbitantly” (15). The scopes would involve just about everything: …”sociosphere, ecosphere and technosphere” (15). The tools: “…a science of the Information Society is a science by means of Information society—by means of making use of possibilities technologies of knowledge provide for getting access to, comparing and assessing an ever increasing variety of knowledge” (16).

The creation of the Information and Communication Technologies & Society (ICT&S) at the University of Salzburg will pursue the following in a social context: “…develops both technological prototypes and policy recommendations for the implementation of ICTs for business, government, and civil society organizations…” and “…researches the design of ICTs as well as the design of the full range of societal…conditions of their implementation” and “…crosses the perspectives of engineering and social sciences and humanities and even other disciplines if appropriate” (19). The institution is dedicated to studying and approaching the interaction of technology and society as, “…a feedback-loop between science and technology, no the one hand, and society on the other, in times when the old modes of steering society have proven obsolete” (24). The eventual goal is to bring about a Global Sustainable Information Society (GSIS).

The GSIS involves sustainability, justice, fairness, equality, solidarity, harmony with nature, freedom, human efficiency, culture, politics, economy, technology, etc.

There is a further fleshing out of the scope, aims and tools that ICT&S will use to achieve GSIS, with an extensive discussion of the internet as a complex organization. The report concludes by reiterating the goal of the report, which was to make the case that ICT must be a transdisciplinary approach to tackling the complex problems that current society faces.

Knast: Assessing Opportunities for ICT to Contribute to Sustainable Development

Knast, Joanna. (2005). Assessing Opportunities for ICT to Contribute to Sustainable Development. Brussels: Developed for the DG Information Society of the European Commission.

Sustainable development is defined up front as, “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (3). They highlight three forms of sustainability: economic, social and environmental. They highlight 6 unsustainable trends: climate change, public health, poverty and social exclusion, aging society, management of natural resources, and mobility and transport (3). They point to the contribution made by ICT to EU GDP growth, at about 25%.

ICT is acknowledged to be either a factor in contributing to negative trends or positive trends. There is “little evidence” of greater “resource-use efficiency in the ‘new economy’” (4). But, through a holistic approach (I believe that this means an approach that combines government, civil society and business), movements in positive directions can be had.

ICT can reduce environmental impacts. ICT can contribute to social inclusion by providing those excluded with virtual access to events, training, etc. ICT can help grow the economy. ICT can reduce climate change. ICT has not, however, bridged the digital divide (5).

Social inclusion: more opportunities are provided to the poor; better distribution of human capital; improved quality of life; more efficient public administration; improved governance; improved participation; improved access to health services and education; increased access to cultural expression; better combination of home/work/education.

Environmental sustainability: must break link between GDP growth and environmental degradation; decoupling can be absolute or relative; ASA helpful in identifying environmental trends in this regard; product-service shift; energy management in buildings; improved transportation efficiency; requires shift to knowledge economy.

Energy efficiency: generates great growth with little electrical use; better management of energy use in buildings; more intelligent buildings; Waste Electric and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) a major problem; recycling a key component in this regard; efficient transportation by improved rail network; improved satellite use (Galileo); transport substitution (i.e. work at home).

Governance: holistic approach to using ICT required; three major drivers are 1.) acting in conformity with regulation; 2.) catering for companies’ good reputation; 3.) realizing the efficiency benefits of their own technologies (19); must measure impacts and progress; measure corporate social responsibility (CSR) metrics.

Leveraging and Catalysing: need conditions to establish consistent results; governments can demand sustainable development; EU to encourage green procedures; business stakeholders and civil society need to be included; create European core of “Business Leaders” in ICT (21)