Kingsley Davies and Cat Swetel at QCon London about Ethics and Requisite Variety
01 Oct 2024 (13 days ago)
Ethical Considerations in Software Development
- Kingsley Davis helped organize a conference called Good Tech Comp in Brighton because there was a need to investigate the ethical use of technology. (1m15s)
- Davis believes more people are questioning whether technology is good or bad, and if regulations are sufficient to address concerns. (3m27s)
Ethical Frameworks and Codes of Conduct
- Davis states other engineering professions have codes of conduct and ethical frameworks, which are just beginning to emerge in software development. (5m40s)
- There is discussion about the potential for regulation in the software engineering industry, similar to the Hippocratic oath for doctors. (6m4s)
- The ACM has established a code of conduct and a code of ethics for software engineers. (6m26s)
- The Ethical OS Toolkit, highlighted in a blog post by Sam Warner, helps break down ethical challenges into smaller, manageable steps. (7m36s)
Environmental Impact of Technology
- Bitcoin mining consumes a significant amount of electricity, equivalent to the 38th country in the world in terms of electricity consumption. (12m3s)
The Rise of Bitcoin
- The 2008 global economic crisis led to a lack of trust in financial institutions, which contributed to the emergence of Bitcoin. (13m40s)
Variety and Scale in Software Development
- Cat Swetel, an engineering manager at Ticket Master, gave a talk at QCon London about the importance of variety in achieving scale, drawing on Ashby's law of requisite variety. (16m31s)
- Variety is generally positive if strategically applied, particularly in diverse markets where businesses offer unique services to individuals. (18m25s)
- While variety in personalized recommendations is beneficial, the underlying infrastructure should prioritize stability and repeatability. (19m6s)
Building Resilient Organizations
- Building resilient organizations requires teams with diverse experiences, beliefs, and perspectives to foster a wider range of options and potential solutions. (20m39s)
The Future of Software Development
- The software industry is in its infancy, setting the tone for future generations and impacting the future of humanity. (25m24s)
- Individuals in the software industry have a responsibility to consider the outcomes of their actions and be mindful of the systems they implement. (26m12s)
- People in the software industry should feel empowered to speak up and say no, especially if they are in a position to do so. (30m50s)