Tecnología, geoposicionamiento y cultura digitalnavegando hacia la coproducción de la innovación científica

Abstract

The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) revolution is transforming all spheres of social reality, leading many observers to talN about the emergence of a new digital culture. Sustained by the promises of the creation of a more solidari- ous, open and democratic culture, the information society is nowadays a reality, which permeates any sort of human expression. The widespread use of smartphones and geolocation systems (GPS) is a clear example of the transformative power of ICT. The extensive implementation of GPS in mobile devices has produced a sig- nificant growth in the supply of location-based services, usually available in the form of “apps” which offer great advantages to their users. Nevertheless their use entails high risNs to users’ information security and privacy: besides the risN of cybercrime, users of ICT services are not prepared to understand the complexity of the technology and the technical characteristics of most service settings. In order to use novel digital systems, unaware users often taNe uninformed decisions, facing the risN of losing part of their security, privacy, or of other fundamental rights relat- ed to freedom of movement and to one’s ability to remain unseen. For this reason, it becomes extremely important to investigate the controversial nature of applications based on geolocation systems from a sociological perspective. Without any inten- tion to stop, or prevent, technological progress, or to jeopardize the benefit the industry is producing, this paper proposes a theoretical and empirical frameworN that aims at ensuring that all staNeholders will have a say and be represented in the innovation process. More specifically, we consider that responsible innovative technologies can only be the result of the collaboration and participation of all ac- tors responsible for the advancement of ICT systems.