Design for well-being: The fourth generation of technology development

Despite the importance of well-being, few studies have been conducted on the relationship between well-being and technology. In this paper, the development of technology from the perspective of well-being studies are divided into three generations. In higher generations, the main criterion of technology development becomes more comprehensive, in order to decrease the side effects of technology. We introduce the fourth generation in which well-being is the main criterion of the design process. Although it may not seem necessary to say that the purpose of most technologies is implicitly well-being, we show that the domination of physical pleasure in terms of use and convenience in the modern era can decrease human well-being through a declination of our necessary abilities such as resilience, self-control and problem-solving. So we suggest that instead of paying attention to values separately, well-being, in its broadest sense including physical, psychological, and social aspects, should be considered in the design process as an ultimate goal of technology development. Finally, some deontological approaches and consequentialist approaches are suggested to achieve well-being in the fourth generation of technology development.

Automated summary

This paper explores the relationship between well-being and technology, dividing technology development into different generations. In the highest generation, technology development focuses on reducing side effects. The author introduces the fourth generation of technology development, where well-being is the main criterion in the design process. The pursuit of physical pleasure and convenience in modern society can decrease well-being, so considering well-being as the ultimate goal in technology development is suggested.