The 23rd interdisciplinary conference of the EUCO research network will take place in Lucerne in 2023 from October 29-21. The theme this year is “Next Generation Communication: Communication in a Changing World.” The symposium aims to bring together researchers and practitioners from different disciplines and foster a lively exchange of ideas.
I am delighted to share our collective paper abstract which grew through transdisciplinary communication with my colleagues:
The (Algorithmic) Cage
*Jasmin COWIN[1]
Department of TESOL/Bilingual Education, Graduate School of Education, Touro University, NY, 10036, U.S.A.
Cristo LEON[2]
Office of Research & Development, NJIT, Newark, NJ, 07102-1982, U.S.A.
Birgit OBERER[3]
ETCOP Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, Klagenfurt, Austria
Abstract:
This paper and presentation explore the dual role of algorithmic technologies in shaping digital communication, acting both as catalysts and barriers. We critically analyze the AI revolution’s socio-economic consequences, grounded in Yuval Noah Harari’s discourse on the emergence of a potentially ‘useless’ class and reflecting upon the predictions of Ray Kurzweil regarding human augmentation. Our investigation pivots around the pivotal questions of job displacement and the evolving definition of meaningful employment in a landscape progressively dominated by automation. The paper debates the nuanced relationship between human cognition and digital technology, juxtaposing the theories of embodied cognition and digitization. Special attention is paid to the implications of language digitization, exploring ramifications such as diminished linguistic diversity, the homogenization of expression, and the perpetuation of dominant languages. We also confront issues emanating from the digital divide and raise pressing concerns about privacy and security in an increasingly digitized society. The paper concludes by highlighting the necessity for interdisciplinary collaboration to navigate the complexities and challenges arising within digital communication spheres.
Dystopian Visions – Figure 1: Amazon patent number 20150066283 A1
Language Attrition and Desertification
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