The Paradox of Development. In 2008, Google created a system to predict flu outbreaks in advance. Initially, the tool accurately forecasted when and where the flu might occur. However, in 2013, a new feature was added that suggested related search terms. As a result, searchers began inputting their queries less carefully, which led to a decline in the system’s predictive performance. Although improvements have been made since then, this example illustrates how enhancements in one area can cause failures in another. Therefore, it seems like we gain by losing, and often lose by gaining. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”
Design ethics is an essential field of study. You may wonder if ethics play a role in design, but they are crucial, particularly in terms of addiction. Slot machines, for example, are four times more addictive than other gambling games. This heightened addiction is mainly due to the variable rewards these games provide. Some designers view this addiction as a means to increase profits. A classic example is a screen with an infinite scroll function, which can lead to excessive time consumption. This occurs because the game’s rewards are unpredictable, and some designers tie this addiction directly to revenue generation. Therefore, ethical considerations are vital across all domains. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”