hacker ethic

In the project AI AI Barbie we design new frameworks for responsible use of AI in toys with parents, children and experts from different disciplines.

 

What is the effect of algorithms on our society? Intern Mark van Koningsveld did research with Tinder chatbots that put users in a box.

 

Henk from Waag tells why we need more hackers and people with the hacker attitude. Teaching this to kids is a good start, he explains.

 

An overview of fragments, with a short description, as chosen by Marleen Stikker for the third episode of VPRO Zomergasten of 2018.

 

Waag was at SHA2017: the hacker event in the Netherlands. How was it and what were the highlights?

 

It is held every four years, each time under a different name: a unique Dutch hacker camp. This year's edition is called SHA (Still Hacking Anyway) and is taking place in Flevoland (Zeewolde). With'TSJA2017: Technopolitics Village' Waag participates in the programme.

 

Hackathons, as in ‘condensed timeframes were programmers come together to collectively or individually achieve something out of the ordinary’ (a more comprehensive definition can be found on Wikipedia) have existed for decades, but became wildly popular after the 2008 Apps for Democracy contest in Washington.

 

In Hamburg, I learned about hacks for every piece of digital technology that I use. While sitting in the train back home, I tried to sort out the massive amount of overwhelming information, revelations and insights that were presented to me at the 30th Chaos Communication Congress (#30C3).

 

With our computers and mobile devices we are generating a huge amount of data, even by just being connected to mobile networks and the internet. Governments and companies are very interested in our data and approriate our data without our explicit consent. One way to raise awareness of the possible technical solutions to protect yourself online is organizing a so-called CryptoParty.

 

From the European Open Cities project a new challenge has started to build apps that help cities manage their challenges related to tourism, titled Open Data Tourism Hack at home. It brings together two important themes of the smart city - open data and sensor networks - and uses them to help European cities find new ways to manage the big challenges and benefits of tourism today.

 

Should we all become hackers? My answer is ‘no’. But if you ask me if we all should develop some hacker mentality, my answer would be ‘yes’, most definitely.