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The Hidden Costs of Abstraction in Computing

Luca Resti
Computer Ethics, Paper
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Abstract

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The Hidden Costs of Abstraction in Computing

Introduction

The advancement of technology has become an unstoppable force. Its goals are
the simplification of tasks and the fulfillment of human needs in the most convenient
way possible. Convenience is often regarded as an important design goal when creating
new technological artifacts. In order to achieve this convenience, degrees of separation
are added between users and their end goals. This process of abstraction creates a black
box effect, obscuring complex processes underneath.
Nowhere is this principle more prevalent than in the field of information
technology (IT), where products take a representation of information as raw material
and transform it in a variety of often nebulous and convoluted ways. Through
successive iterations, software is refined, inefficiencies are resolved, graphical interfaces
are streamlined - all with the express purpose of delivering a smooth user experience.
The infrastructure, the algorithms and the astounding computational complexity that
lie between the clicking of a button and the production of an output are neatly tucked
away from sight, because convenience is paramount.
In hiding the true nature of the process, however, software designers and
developers may be unintentionally conditioning our thought processes and our
perception of reality. This phenomenon should not be confused with deliberate
attempts at influencing a user’s behavior. Social media platforms, for example, are
often criticized for attempting to psychologically manipulate their users by presenting
them with specific stimuli in order to keep them engaged. Such practices present
obvious ethical implications, as they reveal an attempt at deception on the part of the
designers. On the other hand, this paper focuses on the potentially harmful
consequences of what are commonly considered good design principles.

The Illusion of Immateriality

Software is notoriously hard to define. A prominent reason for this is the

ill-defined nature of the domain of computing, in philosophical, ethical and legal terms.
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Should a piece of software be defined as just the underlying algorithms that regulate its
function or the code that implements them? Should developers of open-source
applications be held accountable for how others use their code? These are just a few
examples, but there are many others. It can be confusing trying to make sense of these
issues, although they do share a common root. Software feels immaterial, like it’s just a
process, a pure manipulation of information. This feeling is amplified by just how easy
and convenient user experiences have become.
Lost in the streets of a foreign country? No problem, just reach for your phone,
download a map application through your mobile internet connection and after a few
short moments you’re good to go. The staggering simplicity of the act not only hides
the complexity of the underlying process, but also its real-world costs.
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References