IEEE Future Directions
IEEE Technology Policy and Ethics
IEEE Technology Policy and Ethics is a bi-monthly digital publication featuring timely technical, policy, ethical, social, governmental, but not political commentary, related to emerging technologies and advancements that are electrical and electronic in nature. Future Directions considers the reflection of technology through the lens of social implications a key tenant as IEEE works to incubate and promote technologies.
This publication is actively promoted across IEEE Future Directions Initiatives. Readers of this newsletter include IEEE top to middle-level leadership, policy and technology experts, academicians, scholars, and students.
IEEE Technology Policy and Ethics
March 2022
The Role of Novel Technologies in Combating COVID-19
By Himanshi Babbar, Roopali Dogra, Shalli Rani, Chitkara University Institute of Engineering and Technology, Chitkara University, Punjab, India
The recent coronavirus commenced in Wuhan at the end of 2019. Historical records provide details on three deadly disease outbreaks observed in 1918, 1957, and 1968. On 30 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a cause of concern regarding potential transmission of the coronavirus (COVID-19) [5]. A pandemic occurs when a disease is quickly transmitted across different countries and continents, and typically has extraordinary social and economic impacts. Furthermore, current globalization is fueled by growing urbanization, growing populations, and enhanced worldwide travel, which has turned many cities throughout the world into COVID transmission hubs.
Academic Misconduct: Nonscientific and Nonstandard Evaluation of Awards and Professional Titles
By Dr. Zhihan Lv, Department of Game Design and Faculty of Arts, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
There are many aspects to consider when evaluating a researcher’s academic achievement, including the quality of the journals in which their papers were published, the number of times their papers have been cited, and any awards received by the researcher. For a teacher at a college or university, the promotion of professional title based on an assessment of the academic results is also an aspect used for career advancement. Prudence, accuracy, and authenticity are fundamental to academic research. The current academic paper review process leverages external reviewers, experts in the varying fields It is a very reasonable and reliable method to evaluate the contribution of the paper, and it can ensure the authenticity of academic work. The evaluation of awards and professional titles should be as prudent and standard as the academic paper review process. However, the evaluation of awards and professional titles at some research institutes is nonstandard and nonscientific.
Next Generation Technology Workforce—Precarious Work and Platform Regulation
By Dr. Lutfun Nahar Lata, Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Today’s workforce has an abundance of computing resources. Cloud Computing, Digital Platforms, Big Data, and Computation Intensive automation have changed the traditional labor markets, and the rules that regulate the workforce. Companies such as Amazon, Facebook, Google, Airbnb, Uber, and Deliveroo use online structures that have opened up new forms of activities, and these structures tend to replace the traditional labor market relations. In particular, the ‘platform,’ ‘gig,’ ‘sharing,’ and ‘on-demand’ economies have become increasingly important focuses of research, particularly on how intermediary platforms build, connect, and reconstruct the social relations among laborers, consumers, and businesses.
Technology Policy and Ethics Editorial Board
If you are interested in serving as an editor for IEEE Technology Policy and Ethics, please send an email with your CV/Resume and a brief summary of your qualifications to FDPolicyEthics@ieee.org. We ask each board member to submit at least one self-written or solicited article each year.