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Technology foresight for social good: Social implications of technological innovation by 2050 from a Global Expert Survey

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  • Mao, Caixia
  • Koide, Ryu
  • Brem, Alexander
  • Akenji, Lewis

Abstract

Technology foresight is crucial in shaping the futures of social good that brings intrinsic and instrumental values to engage different stakeholders in the process. Within this context, the impact of technological innovation on the society from a multi-dimensional perspective is understudied. This paper addresses and investigates this gap by applying a qualitative survey of 137 experts. The survey's results are then treated using quantitative cross-sectional analysis to examine the interrelationships between lifestyle domains. Our findings indicate that technological innovation benefits society by improving communication and productivity in the supply chain. However, it causes unintended consequences such as deepening inequality and increasing the surveillance of the public. In addition, although technology provides more options for environmentally conscious choices and better infrastructure, its affordability is a concern. The paper concludes that social dimensions merit greater consideration in terms of multi-dimensional analysis and policy implications. It proposes future research to consider wellbeing as a key determining factor in deciding whether certain technology should be promoted to add value to the social good.

Suggested Citation

  • Mao, Caixia & Koide, Ryu & Brem, Alexander & Akenji, Lewis, 2020. "Technology foresight for social good: Social implications of technological innovation by 2050 from a Global Expert Survey," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:153:y:2020:i:c:s0040162519305608
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2020.119914
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    1. Vasja Roblek & Maja Meško & Mirjana Pejić Bach & Oshane Thorpe & Polona Šprajc, 2020. "The Interaction between Internet, Sustainable Development, and Emergence of Society 5.0," Data, MDPI, vol. 5(3), pages 1-27, September.
    2. Fioramonti, Lorenzo & Coscieme, Luca & Costanza, Robert & Kubiszewski, Ida & Trebeck, Katherine & Wallis, Stewart & Roberts, Debra & Mortensen, Lars F. & Pickett, Kate E. & Wilkinson, Richard & Ragnar, 2022. "Wellbeing economy: An effective paradigm to mainstream post-growth policies?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    3. Caixia Mao & Ryu Koide & Lewis Akenji, 2020. "Applying Foresight to Policy Design for a Long-Term Transition to Sustainable Lifestyles," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-20, July.
    4. Chae Hyun Im & Keun Tae Cho, 2021. "Comparing and Identifying Influential Factors of Technological Innovation Efficiency in Manufacturing and Service Industries Using DEA: A Study of SMEs in South Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-21, November.
    5. Wang, Lu & Luo, Gong-li & Sari, Arif & Shao, Xue-Feng, 2020. "What nurtures fourth industrial revolution? An investigation of economic and social determinants of technological innovation in advanced economies," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    6. Kumar, Anil & Agrawal, Rohit & Wankhede, Vishal A & Sharma, Manu & Mulat-weldemeskel, Eyob, 2022. "A framework for assessing social acceptability of industry 4.0 technologies for the development of digital manufacturing," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    7. Gu, Jianqiang & Gouliamos, Kostas & Lobonţ, Oana-Ramona & Nicoleta-Claudia, Moldovan, 2021. "Is the fourth industrial revolution transforming the relationship between financial development and its determinants in emerging economies?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    8. Bigerna, Simona & Micheli, Silvia & Polinori, Paolo, 2021. "New generation acceptability towards durability and repairability of products: Circular economy in the era of the 4th industrial revolution," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    9. Skare, Marinko & Porada-Rochoń, Małgorzata, 2022. "Technology and social equality in the United States," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    10. Pel, Bonno & Raven, Rob & van Est, Rinie, 2020. "Transitions governance with a sense of direction: synchronization challenges in the case of the dutch ‘Driverless Car’ transition," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    11. Alabed, Amani & Javornik, Ana & Gregory-Smith, Diana, 2022. "AI anthropomorphism and its effect on users' self-congruence and self–AI integration: A theoretical framework and research agenda," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    12. Sakellariou, Evy & Karantinou, Kalipso & Goffin, Keith, 2021. "Video-ethnography during Covid-19 and beyond: Generating user foresights in a virtual world," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    13. Santos-Vijande, María Leticia & López-Sánchez, Jose Ángel & Pascual-Fernández, Primitiva & Rudd, John M., 2021. "Service innovation management in a modern economy: Insights on the interplay between firms’ innovative culture and project-level success factors," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).

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