Eliciting Change Towards Better Virtual Worlds: A Workshop Process to Foster Ethical Reflection in Creative Technology Design Processes

The concept of the metaverse, recently re-emerging in public discourse, is viewed by some as the internet’s next evolutionary stage, while others regard it as a dubious promise of a future where physical and digital worlds merge seamlessly. As the metaverse takes shape, it is crucial to question whether its design will embody the values of the societies it aims to serve. Emphasizing ethical and inclusive technology development is essential, particularly through educating about the social impacts and ethical challenges in computer science and design. Our research contributes to this goal by introducing a five-day workshop process designed to encourage ethically reflective technology development. This workshop process integrates speculative design, service design, and digital ethics methodologies. We showcase its effectiveness by detailing the outcomes of its implementation in two distinct educational settings: a seminar in Germany and a summer school in Taiwan, both centered on the development of metaverse applications.