The family of the future: How technologies can lead to moral change

Abstract

We increasingly rely on technological artefacts for supporting or replacing personal interactions. But such delegation is not always unproblematic: ever so often unexpected alterations in our relationships occur. More particularly: new technologies tend to destabilize established norms and values. What does this techno-moral change imply for the normative project that is responsible innovation? Is it possible to anticipate these alterations, at least to some extent? In this article we develop a heuristic matrix that identifies patterns and mechanisms of techno-moral change. We then present as a case study the ambient intelligence systems that are currently developed to coordinate the domestic lives of family members to explain how understanding these patterns and mechanisms can help to discuss future techno-moral change.