Kingsley Davies and Cat Swetel at QCon London about Ethics and Requisite Variety

Ethical Considerations in Software Development

• Kingsley Davis helped organize a conference called Good Tech Comp in Brighton because there was a need to investigate the ethical use of technology. (1m15s)
• Davis believes more people are questioning whether technology is good or bad, and if regulations are sufficient to address concerns. (3m27s)

Ethical Frameworks and Codes of Conduct

• Davis states other engineering professions have codes of conduct and ethical frameworks, which are just beginning to emerge in software development. (5m40s)
• There is discussion about the potential for regulation in the software engineering industry, similar to the Hippocratic oath for doctors. (6m4s)
• The ACM has established a code of conduct and a code of ethics for software engineers. (6m26s)
• The Ethical OS Toolkit, highlighted in a blog post by Sam Warner, helps break down ethical challenges into smaller, manageable steps. (7m36s)

Environmental Impact of Technology

• Bitcoin mining consumes a significant amount of electricity, equivalent to the 38th country in the world in terms of electricity consumption. (12m3s)

The Rise of Bitcoin

• The 2008 global economic crisis led to a lack of trust in financial institutions, which contributed to the emergence of Bitcoin. (13m40s)

Variety and Scale in Software Development

• Cat Swetel, an engineering manager at Ticket Master, gave a talk at QCon London about the importance of variety in achieving scale, drawing on Ashby's law of requisite variety. (16m31s)
• Variety is generally positive if strategically applied, particularly in diverse markets where businesses offer unique services to individuals. (18m25s)
• While variety in personalized recommendations is beneficial, the underlying infrastructure should prioritize stability and repeatability. (19m6s)

Building Resilient Organizations

• Building resilient organizations requires teams with diverse experiences, beliefs, and perspectives to foster a wider range of options and potential solutions. (20m39s)

The Future of Software Development

• The software industry is in its infancy, setting the tone for future generations and impacting the future of humanity. (25m24s)
• Individuals in the software industry have a responsibility to consider the outcomes of their actions and be mindful of the systems they implement. (26m12s)
• People in the software industry should feel empowered to speak up and say no, especially if they are in a position to do so. (30m50s)