Traditional Human Duties and the Challenges of Digitization

A new digital care ethic is required. To regain control over our time, as well as our digital footprints and shadows, we must adopt and practice the philosophy of slow computing. This involves taking a step back and releasing the digital leash. If we pursue individual and collective, pragmatic, and political initiatives, we stand to enjoy computers while reducing some of the more negative features of the coming digital society and economy. We broaden our central thesis by elaborating on the philosophical foundations of and for slow computing. The goal is to provide a justification and urgency for delayed computing, which would apply to the larger society and businesses. While we can embrace specific acts as they fit and practice slow computing without adhering to a slow philosophy or joining a slow computing movement, our practices are more meaningful and have a greater impact when they are based on a coherent set of concepts and principles that support and encourage them.