The reflection question, ‘has much changed since Floridi wrote this article?’ can be reduced to a simplistic yes or no answer. My response: yes, I believe much has changed in the 14 years since the article publication in 2007. I think more pertinent questions to consider are: how have things changed and also how much of this change was predicted by Floridi in his article?
Things have changed in ways that would have been inconceivable to the average first-world citizen at the time of article publication. Apart from following a simple ‘growth trajectory’ in terms of use and popularity of technologies that were present or in their infancy (Floridi references Google search engine as an example), there have been many new technological advances that are commonplace and taken for granted by citizens of today’s largely technologically defined and driven society. For example, Google Home or Alexa smart speaker devices make life easier/more comfortable around the home; operating as a virtual personal assistant with a range of functionalities from reading a recipe found on a cooking blog to streaming your favourite music. Furthermore, such technologies have ‘human-like’ features to detect voice tones and interpret commands.
Much of today’s technology relies on wireless/WIFI capabilities. Consider WIFI-connected air-conditioner systems for example, that can be operated through an app on your smartphone; capable of completing a range functions from simply switching it on (or off), to temperature adjustment, fan speed and zone control, so the house is perfectly cooled or heated by the time you get home. Fitbits can track sleeping patterns and monitor heart rates, Apple Smartwatches not only receive calls, but can track GPS too and ‘connected’ motion-detected door bells can send a notification and video stream when someone comes to your front door.
In his article, Floridi states “nowadays, we are used to considering the space of information as something we log in to and log out from.” (2007, p. 61). In today’s modern society, we are now always ‘connected’ to information systems through technology without the need of having to ‘login in’ to the WIFI system. Consider RSS feed readers that collate desired information, ready for when you want to access it. Floridi predicted that “we shall be living in an infosphere that will become increasingly synchronized (time), delocalized (space), and correlated (interactions)” (2007, p. 61). This is the epitome of how ordinary citizens operate in a COVID world – especially during lockdown situations. People located across the country or even globe can coordinate in Zoom sessions, through the click of a link – anytime, anywhere and with whomever.
I like the term that Floridi (2007, p. 63) utilised including “digital immigrants” and “digital natives” to describe the current generations knowing only the experience of being connected to the “infosphere”, compared to the previous generation, who have had to adopt and adapt to such technologies during their lifetime.
I believe that in a philosophical sense, Floridi predicted that the development the “infosphere” would be significant. I don’t believe that he would (or could) have predicted exactly how it would be reflected by the day-to-day lifestyle of the ordinary citizen and the specific technologies that have been developed.
I want to finish up though, with a quote that is quite whimsical in the context of today’s world that is ‘always switched on’ and ‘connected’. Floridi stated, “being on call 24 × 7 is a form of slavery, and anyone so busy and important should have a PA (personal assistant) instead” (2007, p. 62).
References
Floridi, L. (2007). A look into the future impact of ICT on our lives. The Information Society, 23, 59-64. http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.csu.edu.au/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=1&sid=85db181f-aa54-430d-a0f9-9c95209a63c4%40sdc-v-sessmgr01