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Principles of Social Informatics

1. Uses of ICTs lead to multiple and sometimes paradoxical effects.
2. Uses of ICTs shape thought and action in ways that benefit some groups more than others.
3. The differential effects of the design, implementation, and uses of ICTs often have moral and ethical consequences.
4. The design, implementation and uses of ICTs have reciprocal relationships with the larger social context.
5. The phenomenon of interest will vary by the level of analysis.

As with all technologies, the Google's Driverless car was developed with a particular demographic in mind: defensive drivers, individuals who do not like driving, individuals who suffer from handicaps, those with business to conduct while driving or who travel for work frequently, government agencies, and those financially stable. According to Owen Thomas (2012), "Google will not disclose the cost of its self-driving car project" (para. 9). Nevertheless, with the assortment of expensive technology that is used, with the "the massive array of sensors Google has to install in its cars alone [costing] $250,000 or more (Thomas, 2012, para. 6)... the $45,000 retail price of the Lexus RX450h cars it's modifying[.] Add in some other custom components, and you get a car that costs more than $300,000" (Thomas, 2012, para. 7). In order to receive a substantial profit that would have justified the development of the car, Google must charge customers that is too expensive for the average worker to afford. This means that the car would truly benefit those groups who have the funds to not only purchase a luxury vehicle but a myriad of radars and sensors too: the upper class and government.

There is hope though! If governments and insurance companies were to subsidize a portion of the cost, this would increase access for those financially dependent and of low-income status. However, if this is not, this technology would not be able to benefit those who suffer from worsening eyesight, poor reflexes, amputations and do not have the capital to purchase such an advanced car. Wealthy people who suffer from the aforementioned medical issues, however, could reap the advantages offered by Google's driverless car. Furthermore, as previously stated, this technology would benefit the government as well, for it has the resources to purchase the car, even in bulk, in addition to being able to utilize the car and even possible developments with Google for military purposes. Large companies and organizations would also be able to purchase and utilize the technology for driving purposes, possibly limiting the work load of their company or personal drivers, as well as presenting a means for new Drivers Education programs. Nonetheless, they would also have to have the financial standing to afford such a vehicle.

Additionally, this technology is going to benefit those who are trusting enough to put their lives in the hands of a machine. Automobiles are dangerous weapons and objects, capable of causing death and mass destruction. Many drivers are petrified by their own inability to control other drivers on the road, fearful of every close-riding or speeding vehicle. It would be hard to believe that this group of people would allow their defenses to drop. Similar to these individuals, those obsessed with safe driving could see the benefits of having a machine that is stated to be safer due to a large percentage of accidents being related to human error. If the idea that autonomic driving cars are safer than human drivers is perpetuated and consistently backed by statistics, many individuals will eventually begin to adopt and place stock within the technology. Therefore, those overcautious could also benefit from the technology, for to them, self driving cars provide the safest means of transportation: transportation that rules out human error. Some might say that if everyone owned a self-driving car, the percentage of accidents related to human error would drop, and the number of accidents caused by running through red lights and stop signs, turning out of turn, driving under the influence, becoming distracted (such as cellphones, the radio, food, and passengers), and driving recklessly would all be eliminated. This would subsequently result in the number of accidents in the world to drop drastically. Lastly, for these rasons, this car could also be seen to benefit those societies in which there are high rates of car accidents.

As one can see, Google's Driverless Car has the potential to be beneficial to a number of parties. However, due to disparities regarding costs, the car will prove to be only beneficial

Who Are We?
Hello! Our names are Adrian, Dedrick, and Sorab. We are students at Rutgers University, majoring in Information Technology. This site serves as a project for our Social Informatics course, which is requiring us to examine an emerging technology based off of the 5 Principles of Social Informatics. The technology that we are assessing is driverless cars: more specifically, Google's Driverless car. We hope to demonstrate information regarding background and development, the need for the technology, the public's preconceived notions and expectations of the technology, the social components of the technology, the technological components of the machine, the possible paradoxical effects that may result from its application in society, and its its moral consequences.

Research Methods
In order to properly depict Google's Driverless car, we shall be providing information regarding the basics of the machine that we have found from a list of scholarly journals (which are each listed in the bibliography portion of the website). Furthermore, we shall be analyzing the videos and interviews provided by Google in order to communicate frst-hand experiences and results from test drives. Lastly, because the goal of driverless cars s to increase and promote safety, the technology will be investigated mostly by its ability to seemingly provide a safer means of transportation without stimulating too many negative paradoxical effects.

Discussion Questions
1. What groups would benefit from Google's Driverless Car?
2. How could the disparity between those with the resources to reap the benefits of the technology and those who do not be minimized.
3. Can we expect Google to make an ethical decision to make this car more accesible to those who demonstrate a special need for the technology?
4. Are there any ethical issues associated with Google not releasing its price early, especially if it means that those who need to save for the expensive cost could do so early?
5. Could the use of Google's driverless technology risk moral and ethical consequences if used by the military? Do we have an ethical responsibility to ensure that technology created to positively benefit society not be used for potentially destructive purposes?

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