We live in an information-rich world. We have easy access to the Internet, which allows us to access and share information across national and geographic borders almost instantaneously. We communicate in a variety of networked media, about a variety of subjects, with a variety of people, and for a variety of purposes. Information communication technologies (ICTs) grow increasingly “smart” and can do more work that humans used to do. In this course, you will learn to research, analyze, and discuss complex issues and arguments surrounding important moral, political, social, and historical questions as they pertain to information and ICTs.
Design Fiction Presentations
A.I. Retail Assistants
by Sammi Heckel
This fictional article details the role out of a new A.I store assistant for an imaginary retail store called Clothing Galore. This piece dives into the features of the robot, as well as what it will mean for low-skilled human labor.
NeuronSync
by Arden MacLaren
This is a fictional sales pitch about a nonexistent brain-implanted microchip called NeuronSync. The idea is that this microchip could track every aspect of your health as well as give you information about other people's health.
Virtue Score System
by Zhirou Liao
This project explores what happens when AI begins grading not just performance, but behavior, participation, and even politeness.
Inspired by real-world concerns about automation and fairness in education, the story reveals the hidden costs of turning human judgment into data, and asks: who gets to define a “good student”?
A Nightshade Revolution
by Ella Rigby
This project, set in 2032, describes digital artist Eva's campaign against unethical AI data scraping, igniting a movement that disrupts AI art models, sparks public failures, and ultimately leads to a major ethical debate and new standards for AI training, ensuring artists' consent and compensation.
CareFULL Robotics
by Ashton Florence
In this futuristic scenario, CareFULL Robotics would help you fulfill your daily obligations like preparing fresh meals, cleaning the house, and even caring for your pets and children!
Virtual Reality Confinement
by Campbell Rogers
This project gives a peek into what the future of VR could look like if used in the wrong ways and provides commentary on the ways we think about the US prison system today.
SPINS Presentation
A Culture War on Wheels
by Olivia Fernandez
This presentation discusses the controversy of Tesla’s Cybertruck using the article, “A Cultural War on Wheels,” by Joseph Bernstein. I spoke about the Cybertruck’s design and its relation to the theory of technological determinism.
