Digitalethics: ‘Ethical’ considerations of post-research ICT impact

Abstract

This contribution posits a supposition on the topic of ‘ethical’ consideration when advanced, engaging, and playful ICT, i.e. beyond that available to the public, is researched. In focus are participants without communicative competence —especially young children diagnosed with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD)—who are unable to express their desire for continued access/use/play. The position results from a mature body of empirical work that began in 1985 that, through specific case studies, stresses the need to contemplate affect on participants, thus promoting funding applications to include post-research access to content for participants as well to support staff intervention training to optimize content use.