IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - September 2023 - 30

Commentary
Therefore, it is often worthwhile to first experiment
with new technology on a smaller scale [29]. This
can, for example, be done by creating and testing
prototypes during the design process [19]. Prototyping
and experimentation can be combined with
methods like questionnaires and focus groups that
enable the collection of relevant information and
experiences concerning potential value change.
Another possibility to better address value change
is to organize the design process so that relevant
new information and new experiences are collected
and considered during the whole life cycle of new
technologies, not just in the early phases of design
and innovation. This can be done by extending the
design process to the full life cycle of products [6],
so that attention to values continues after a product
has been introduced into society. This means that
there is ongoing monitoring of how values related to
the technology change over time, as well as continuous
redesign of the relevant technology if necessary.
A tool that can be used for monitoring value
change over time is ValueMonitor [7].3 By considering
written sources, ValueMonitor helps to trace
values in a technology domain on a frequent basis,
even if these values are not explicitly mentioned
in the written texts. It could also be worthwhile for
designers to pay attention to large value surveys, like
the World Values Survey4 and the European Values
Study.5 These studies can provide insights into the
dynamics of values on a societal scale.
Design strategies
To deal with externally caused value change, in
particular, we recommend three design strategies
[30]: 1) adaptable design, 2) flexibility in use, and 3)
value robustness.
First, because values can change, it is desirable
to design adaptable technology [11], [21]. If the
composition or configuration of a technological
device or system can be changed, it is more likely
that it will be able to perform well its current function
or perform a novel function. Adaptability allows
technology to be better attuned to new or changed
values. An example of an adaptable technology is
customizable digital apps and software, where users
can change settings in accordance with their preferences
and values.
3https://valuemonitor.eu
4https://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/wvs.jsp
5https://europeanvaluesstudy.eu
Second, flexibility in use is also an important
design feature of technology in dealing with (unforeseen)
value change. Flexibility in use does not mean
that the material product itself can be adjusted but
that there are different possibilities for how it can be
used. By increasing the number of ways in which
technology can be used, one improves the capacity
to deal with value change. For instance, a thermostat
that can be adjusted manually, instead of being
automatically controlled, is flexible in responding to
changes in users' values concerning sustainability
and energy consumption.
Finally, technology will generally remain better
aligned with values when its design is robust. One
might distinguish here between what we will call
" technical robustness " and " value robustness. " Technical
robustness refers to a technology's capacity to
perform its function despite alterations in its technical
features, use, or external circumstances. Technically
robust technology is less sensitive to external
sources of variability. It can perform its function
in novel and unforeseen circumstances, while still
respecting a certain range of values. For instance,
robust design approaches can help to design the built
environment for stable energy performance, thereby
respecting the value of sustainability, despite climate
change and adversarial external conditions [17].
Technical robusTness also allows a design to
fulfill its function and a range of values in new circumstances.
However, it may make it harder to deal
with value change. One reason is that to attain technical
robustness, designers may choose to decrease
adaptability and flexibility in use. When dealing with
value change, we may understand value robustness
as the ability of a design to fulfill its function and serve
relevant values even if these values are prioritized,
conceptualized, or specified differently. Designing
for value robustness means that a design is not optimized
for a specific understanding of current values
but rather is so designed that it is still " good enough "
if these values would be prioritized, conceptualized,
or specified differently. It would require the designers
to articulate different sets of values for which they
want the design to be able to perform properly and
then look for the design option that scores best on
average over these different sets of values rather than
optimize for current values. Such designing for value
robustness may require anticipation, to know what
other value sets, besides the current one, should be
taken into account in the design.
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https://valuemonitor.eu https://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/wvs.jsp https://europeanvaluesstudy.eu
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - September 2023

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