Ethical Issues of Entertainment Computing in the Home

Organizer and Chair:
Andy Sloane
University of Wolverhampton
United Kingdom, WV1 ISB
+44 1902 321445
A.Sloane[at]wlv.ac.uk

Ryohei Nakatsu
Kwansei Gakuin University, Japan

Lynne Baillie
Telecommunications Research Centre, Vienna, Austria

PANEL SUMMARY
There are many influences on the individual as a user and consumer of entertainment computing which can be both beneficial and harmful. The production and consumption of entertainment takes place in an unregulated environment: the home. This makes the ethical implications all the more important as there are fewer controls over the use of content and its subsequent effect on the consumer. The issues that ensue from this scenario are many and varied. It is the task of the research community to understand these issues with a view to creating a better environment for users in the holistic sense. This includes fundamental studies on the effect of devices, software, systems and applications in a multi-disciplinary way. Also, the research that has taken place on the use of technology and, in particular, information technology in the home will be used as a background to the discussions.

Ethical issues can come in many forms and are sometimes only realized “after the fact”. By focusing on the issues in the predesign and design stages in may be possible to alleviate problems that occur in product development and use. It may also lead to a more sustainable product and more acceptable use.
With increasing emphasis on user participation and ethical design it should be possible to achieve high product usage and long-term user satisfaction.

The effect of entertainment computing on the home and its occupants is also an important consideration that will be discussed: How do we ensure that negative effects are minimized? What are the positive effects of Entertainment Computing? What are the long-term consequences of increased use of Entertainment Computing?

This panel, therefore, aims to explore the ethical dimension of Entertainment Computing in the home environment and it looks forward to a vibrant and energetic debate with conference delegates.