DP Digital Society Questionbank

To what extent do the benefits of using Lyrebird’s voice-cloning software outweigh the concerns that may arise from its use?

Automated medical image analysis

EBBZS IT, based in Groningen, the Netherlands, intends to develop a system using artificial intelligence (AI) to help doctors at Joelstraat Hospital interpret medical images.

Due to the high resolution* of the digital images (see Figure 4), EBBZS IT claims the AI system will be able to learn from these images to assist doctors when diagnosing patients’ illnesses.

EBBZS IT also claims the AI system will be able to cope with the significant increase in the volume of patients and the increased complexity of their symptoms and conditions.

Figure 4: Examples of digital images used in the AI system

Jaime has decided to share his personal health information with researchers at the University of Sierra Nevada.

Analyse Jaime’s decision to share his personal health information with the University of Sierra Nevada.

The development of mobile health apps has changed the way citizens manage their own health and well-being.

Discuss whether citizens like Jaime should rely only on the advice of a health app to manage their own health and well-being.

The chief executive officer of MediResearch is considering using cloud-based storage to store the genome data.  

Discuss whether MediResearch should move to cloud-based storage.

Compare and contrast what Source C and Source D reveal about the implanting of microchips in humans.

To what extent do you agree that the advantages of implanting microchips in humans outweigh the concerns? Use all the sources and your own knowledge.

Mobile devices provide many benefits for children but can also be used inappropriately. Some groups claim it is the responsibility of parents to ensure their children use their mobile devices responsibly, while other groups claim that responsibility lies with other stakeholders, such as schools.

With reference to all the sources and your own knowledge, to what extent do you agree that parents should be responsible for ensuring their children develop safe and healthy habits for mobile device usage?

How to appropriately interact in an online environment

Increasing numbers of parents are claiming digital technologies that monitor online activities are the best way to protect their children from offensive content. A number of companies, such as mSpy and Qustodio, have developed online monitoring apps.

Other parents claim it is not necessary to monitor their children’s online behaviour, preferring to encourage their children to develop the knowledge and skills to make appropriate choices.

Parents can consider two different interventions to ensure their children use the online environment appropriately:

1. Monitor their children’s online behaviour using apps
2. Encourage their children to develop the knowledge and skills to use the online environment and make appropriate choices.

With reference to real-life scenarios, evaluate these two interventions.

The principal at Collège Earlet has been discussing arrangements for sharing data from the students’ watches with a third party, Fitness World.

Discuss whether the principal at Collège Earlet should agree to share data that has been collected by the students’ watches with Fitness World.

Explain one advantage for the student of using these monitoring devices.

Explain one advantage for the teacher if their students use these monitoring devices.

Robbi’s website claims that, “Robbi is friendly, helpful and intelligent. He can sense and respond, and learns as you engage with him”. Some of the customers who own Robbi are considering whether they could extend the range of tasks Robbi could perform, or whether they should allow Robbi to make decisions for them.

To what extent should individuals rely on social robots like Robbi to act as decision-makers for them?

It is claimed that the NHS’s partnership with Google is beneficial for both stakeholders. However, concerns have been raised about the ethical implications of this data-sharing agreement.

To what extent is it ethical for the NHS to share patient information about eye scans from Moorfields Eye Hospital with Google?

Other than for the prevention of injuries, discuss the impacts on workers and employers of the use of exoskeletons in the workplace.

Evaluate the decision by the NHS to share patient data with Google.

Many people use smartwatches to monitor their vital signs and manage their health.

To what extent should an individual use a smartwatch to manage their health?

Robotic Surgery

Sandy Parkar, the manager of a large hospital, is considering using robots controlled by surgeons to carry out surgical procedures. The surgeon uses a computer console to control the robot (see Figure 5).

Figure 5: Robotic surgery

[Source: mathisworks / iStock.]

All the robot’s movements, and the surgical procedure, are recorded. This allows information to be collected about each procedure.

In 2022, a patient died while undergoing a surgical procedure in which a surgical robot was used. Sandy claims the manufacturer of the robot should be accountable. This was contested by the manufacturer, and a court case followed to determine who was accountable.  

Discuss whether the surgeon, the manufacturer of the surgical robot, or the hospital manager should be held accountable.