Abstract
Ethical dissonance arises from conflicts between beliefs or behaviors and affects ethical factors such as normality or conformity. This paper proposes a weak signal-oriented framework to investigate ethical dissonance from experiences linked to human–machine interactions. It is based on a systems engineering principle called human-systems inclusion, which considers any experience feedback of weak signals as beneficial to learn. The framework studies weak signal-based scenarios from testimonies of individual experiences and these scenarios are assessed by other people. For this purpose, the framework proposes several databases as sources of weak signals, formalization tools of experience feedback of weak signals, models of references of conformity, ethical factors, and a list of examples of ethical dissonance. It also includes sequential steps to make the latter credible regarding the results from the experimental protocols. The framework was used to investigate ethical dissonance by analyzing experiences pertaining to achieving inclusive mobility. The first example focuses on ethical dissonance in terms of hindrance that goes against autonomous mobility due to a misunderstanding of how the system functions in terms of negative and positive emotions. Two other examples present possible ethical dissonance when the use of safety systems such as car driver-assistance systems, may create danger. Investigating ethical dissonance can then help system-inclusive design or evaluation processes by taking into account scenarios from weak signal-based experiences and making them credible.
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Acknowledgements
The present research work has been supported by the Scientific Research Network on Integrated Automation and Human-Machine Systems (GRAISyHM), and by the Regional Council of “Hauts-de-France” (Regional Council of Nord – Pas de Calais – Picardie from France), project CONPETISES (Pedagogical control of human driving tasks by automated systems). The author gratefully acknowledges the support of these institutions. The author also thanks the participants of the workshops on Ergonomics and Artificial Intelligence (ERGO-IA) in 2017 and 2019.
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Vanderhaegen, F. Weak Signal-Oriented Investigation of Ethical Dissonance Applied to Unsuccessful Mobility Experiences Linked to Human–Machine Interactions. Sci Eng Ethics 27, 2 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-021-00284-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-021-00284-y