Driving for Values. An explorative study on acceptance, acceptability and autonomy in the context of a navigation aid that promotes public values
Thijs Turèl (Responsible Sensing Lab)
Fabian Geiser (Responsible Sensing Lab)
Julia Hermann (University of Twente)
Kathrin Bednar (Eindhoven University of Technology)
Ibo van de Poel (TU Delft - Ethics & Philosophy of Technology)
Wijnand Ijsselsteijn (Eindhoven University of Technology)
Matthew J. Dennis (Eindhoven University of Technology)
Jop Pék (Gemeente Amsterdam)
More Info
expand_more
Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download, forward or distribute the text or part of it, without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license such as Creative Commons.
Abstract
This report outlines the findings of an investigation conducted by the Responsible Sensing Lab, philosophy of technology experts from the ESDiT consortium (Ethics of Socially Disruptive Technologies) and representatives from the Smart Mobility Program of the city of Amsterdam. The investigation employs a research through design approach, merging prototyping activities, empirical studies, and philosophical reflection. It aims to explore the Driving for Values concept, focusing on car drivers’ experience of the value of autonomy and its relation to the notions of acceptability and acceptance. The Driving for Values system is framed as a voluntary navigation aid providing car drivers with so called “social routes”, which supports the municipality in fostering a variety of public values such as livability and air quality, by managing the use of the public space. Autonomy is here conceptualized as involving two main components: i) the ability to freely choose among different options and ii) the availability of meaningful options, i.e options that enable the agent to decide and act on the basis of their own reasoned values and commitments. Acceptance is conceptualized as the willingness to use the app. Acceptability refers to the system’s adherence to moral norms and principles. The goal of this investigation is to design and evaluate a variety of potential features of the Driving for Values system considering their impact on car drivers’ experience of autonomy and the effects on acceptance and acceptability of the system. Seven studies with a total of approximately 65 participants (including citizens of Amsterdam, designers and researchers) were conducted. In these studies, participants engaged with different versions of the Driving for Values system and compared their features. The insights from these studies together with insights gathered from monthly workshops with experts from academia and municipality representatives are the basis of the recommendations presented below. These recommendations are intended to support the municipality of Amsterdam in further researching and designing the Driving for Values and similar systems.