This title slide introduces the "FCP Final Report & Presentation" for the Social Informatics M7 Final Project. It credits author Hugh Hasler, lists the course as Social Informatics M7, and dates it December 12, 2025.

FCP Final Report & Presentation

By Hugh Hasler Course: Social Informatics M7 Date: December 12, 2025

Source: Futuristic self-driving car

This introductory slide defines technological determinism as technology autonomously shaping society, using autonomous vehicles (AVs) as an exemplar of emerging technologies. AVs ignite debates on tech-driven change and set the stage for a social informatics perspective.

Introduction

• Technological determinism: technology autonomously shapes society
• Autonomous vehicles exemplify emerging technologies
• AVs ignite debate on tech-driven change
• Sets stage for social informatics perspective

Source: Social Informatics M7 | Final Course Project Part-III: FCP Final Report & Presentation

The slide contrasts tech-driven change in self-driving vehicles, where AI, sensors, and algorithms autonomously reshape transportation via technological determinism. It also covers socially-driven change, where regulation, ethics, public trust, and norms mediate adoption, sparking the determinism debate.

The Role of Self-Driving Vehicles

Source: Social Informatics M7 | Final Course Project Part-III: FCP Final Report & Presentation by Hugh Hasler

The deterministic perspective claims technology inevitably drives social change, such as autonomous vehicles transforming transport. It overlooks social context, human resistance, unintended consequences, and technology's lack of autonomy.

Deterministic Perspective

• Technology inevitably drives social change (e.g., AVs transform transport)
• Ignores social context and human resistance
• Overlooks unintended consequences
• Technology is not an autonomous force

Source: Social Informatics M7 | Final Course Project Part-III

The Social Informatics Perspective emphasizes how social norms, regulations, and trust shape AV adoption and public acceptance. It stresses that AV success depends on societal factors, requiring a holistic integration of technology and society.

Social Informatics Perspective

• Social norms shape technology adoption.
• Regulations govern AV deployment and use.
• Trust influences public acceptance of AVs.
• AV success hinges on societal factors.
• Holistic view integrates tech and society.

Source: Social Informatics M7 | Final Course Project Part-III: FCP Final Report & Presentation by Hugh Hasler

The slide titled "Individual Networks" explores factors in human-vehicle interaction via an image. It emphasizes that trust and perception shape interactions, personal factors drive AV acceptance, and individual networks influence technology adoption.

Individual Networks

!Image

• Trust and perception shape human-vehicle interaction
• Personal factors drive AV acceptance
• Individual networks influence technology adoption

Source: Social Informatics M7 | FCP Final Report

Society Networks slide outlines policies regulating autonomous vehicle (AV) integration, societal impacts, safety, and liability issues. It also covers employment shifts displacing driving jobs and societal pushback against economic disruptions.

Society Networks

• Policies regulate AV integration and societal impacts.
• Employment shifts displace traditional driving jobs.
• Regulations adapt to safety and liability issues.
• Societal pushback resists economic disruptions.

Source: Social Informatics M7 | Final Course Project Part-III: FCP Final Report & Presentation

The "Technology Infrastructure" slide features a grid of four key elements: advanced sensors for real-time detection of vehicles, pedestrians, and obstacles; AI algorithms for safe decision-making and navigation; smart roads enabling vehicle-to-infrastructure communication; and equitable access for all communities. This setup supports robust, inclusive autonomous vehicle systems.

Technology Infrastructure

{ "features": [ { "icon": "👁️", "heading": "Advanced Sensors", "description": "Real-time detection of vehicles, pedestrians, and obstacles." }, { "icon": "🧠", "heading": "AI Algorithms", "description": "Process sensor data for safe decision-making and navigation." }, { "icon": "🛣️", "heading": "Smart Roads", "description": "Integrated systems enabling vehicle-to-infrastructure communication." }, { "icon": "⚖️", "heading": "Equitable Access", "description": "Ensure infrastructure reaches all communities for fair adoption." } ] }

Source: Social Informatics M7 | Final Course Project Part-III: FCP Final Report & Presentation by Hugh Hasler

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) depend on vast data volumes that amplify risks, while facing data governance challenges for ethical collection and privacy concerns from constant surveillance. The slide also emphasizes cybersecurity threats requiring robust defenses and the need for social oversight to ensure balanced regulation.

Information Structures

• AVs rely on vast data volumes, amplifying risks
• Data governance challenges ensure ethical collection
• Privacy concerns from constant surveillance and tracking
• Cybersecurity threats demand robust defenses
• Social oversight needed for balanced regulation

Source: Social Informatics M7 | Final Course Project Part-III

The conclusion slide argues that technological determinism is incomplete, as technology and society mutually interplay, with autonomous vehicles exemplifying this dynamic. It urges embracing social informatics for better outcomes, emphasizing that tech and society shape our future together.

Conclusion

• Technological determinism is incomplete: Tech & society interplay.

• AVs exemplify mutual shaping.
• Embrace social informatics for better outcomes.

Tech and society mutually shape our future.

Source: Social Informatics M7 | Final Course Project Part-III: FCP Final Report & Presentation by Hugh Hasler

This "References" slide lists key sources on autonomous vehicles and related topics. It includes NHTSA reports on safety performance, ScienceDirect studies on social impacts, PNAS research on technology adoption, and SSRN critiques of technological determinism.

References

• NHTSA: Reports on autonomous vehicle safety performance
• ScienceDirect: Studies on social impacts of self-driving cars
• PNAS: Research on technology adoption patterns
• SSRN: Critiques of technological determinism theories

Source: Social Informatics M7 | Final Course Project Part-III: FCP Final Report & Presentation by Hugh Hasler