Introduction - Informing Digital Futures: Strategies for Citizen Engagement - page 7

1.2 A Desirable Digital Future?
In this topic, we refer frequently to creating 'desirable digital futures', so it
is important to define what we mean by this. What are the ends which peo-
ple might want technologies to serve - what might a desirable digital fu-
ture contain? It will undoubtedly have different characteristics for different
people at different times. But in general terms, we would all benefit from
technologies which are affordable, inclusive, easy to use, and promote sus-
tainable use of the earth's resources (including human efforts and support).
Equally, we would all benefit from technologies which fit in with our so-
cial systems, cultures and values, which have built up over generations.
Fig. 1.1. Key Attributes of a 'Desirable Digital Future'.
We would also like communication which is always available to us, like
the power of speech, and which we use when we choose. What we do not
want is to be bombarded with unwanted communications from people we
do not know, with unsolicited or offensive material, or demands that we
engage in communication when it is not convenient or appropriate. We would
welcome being able to undertake financial transactions which are as simple
and secure as handing over cash to the seller. What we do not want are
complex security procedures which, if we muddle them up or forget
critical items, put us at risk of not being able to access our own money, or