Umm, duhh! You're car doesn't clean the air!!!

I’d like to comment on Fogg’s chapter entitled “The Ethics of Persuasive Technology,” which was in this week’s required readings.

The author raised an interesting point in his example about the Volvo Ozone Eater (page 214). He stated consumers that frequently played the game are “likely to [incorrectly] start viewing all Volvos as machines that can clean the air.”

Fogg claims that his example depicts an ethical concern uniquely related to persuasive technology, however I disagree. Technological innovations should not be blamed for deceptive advertising. Advertisers and producers in every industry try to appeal to consumer’s specific desires and have never overtly objected to utilizing trickery in the process. Again, the internet is a relatively new medium susceptible to the same negativity as any other T.V., radio or print message.

And besides, let’s not forget civil responsibility… Are these people this stupid? Last week in Roll Call (the Hill newsletter) there was a cartoon depiction of a job application for Bush’s next Supreme Court Justice. It was a joke (similar to the Volvo game) and no matter how many times I read it or show it to my friends, I’m not sitting and waiting for Bush to call me up for a follow-up interview.