Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Bridging the gap between innovation and ELSA
Excitement
and
concerns
Findings, promises,
and expectations
Gap filled in by
ELSA studies
??
Product development
and
embedding in society
Research
and
development
FIGURE 12.3
Bridging the gap between innovation and ethical, legal, and social aspects (ELSA).
forget to take other requirements, for instance, how to manage the social
embedding of technologies, into account. The technical and legal infrastruc-
ture that has to be put in place, the ethical questions that must be addressed,
and the wider public acceptance of a technology are most often left to the
end of the innovation process where the situation has become rigid and flex-
ibility for change has been reduced.
Identification of social, ethical, and legal aspects in early stages as pre-
sented in this chapter can provide a platform for further discussion for scien-
tists, policymakers, managers, and other stakeholders. Early interaction can
lead to further articulation of key (techno-institutional) design requirements
that can guide an optimal social-embedding process of the applications of
BAN. Our claim is that taking broader sets of actors and aspects into account
in the early stages will enable more informed strategic assessments and deci-
sions. This in turn enables making more reflexive choices. This is important
because until existing and emerging issues cannot be addressed in the affir-
mative, the clear implication will be uncertainty, waiting games, and barriers
to further embedment processes.
References
Aarts E and Roovers R. IC design challenges for ambient intelligence, in
Proceedings
of the Design, Automation and Test IEEE Computer Society in Europe Conference and
Exhibition
, IEEE 1530-1591/2003, 2003.
