SOCIAL PROBLEMS AND INNOVATION: SAFETY ISSUES IN TECHNOLOGICAL SYSTEMS

Abstract

 In today's society one of the most significant problems is the safety of potentially dangerous technological systems surrounding us. A great number of innovations have been implemented to enhance safety. Ironically, these innovations also facilitate the speed, scale, and complexity of the relevant technological systems, thereby increasing potential risks. The introduction of enhanced safety measures has reduced the number of accidents, but may possibly exacerbate the severity of the damage in the event of an accident. For example, the speed and frequency of Tokaido Shinkansen, the bullet trains between Tokyo and Osaka, have gradually increased as a result of the various safety measures being implemented. Moreover, these innovations aimed at improving safety promote the substitution of autonomous systems for human operators. The development of autonomous vehicles, for instance, has been widespread in recent years. However, it is apparent that more advanced self-driving technology than level 2 will not be able to prevent serious accidents in the real world of open and mixed traffic, unless its speed is substantially slowed down to reduce the physical impact in the event of a collision. Therefore, a fundamental issue arises regarding the values of the society: which is more important, safety or efficiency? Our society places a high value on efficiency, and innovations have been geared towards enhancing efficiency. Even innovations aimed at safety have been consumed for increasing speed, size, and frequency, or for reducing human power and employment, rather than for improving safety itself. This situation cannot be changed without a shift in our society's values. Essentially, our society's values shape the gigantic inertial force of capitalist companies that create most technological systems towards efficiency. The society's values can be changed if we, as individuals, behave differently towards the same goal. Changing our society's vales 180 degrees might seem unrealistic, but a 90-degree-turn may seem acceptable: allocating safety innovations towards enhancing safety only, while maintaining status quo in terms of speed, size, and frequency of the relevant technological system. Therefore, we can resolve more social problems through innovations if we accept the change in society's values and acts accordingly.