Digital sustainability: basic conditions for sustainable digital artifacts and their ecosystems

Sustainability Science
Matthias StuermerThomas Myrach

Abstract

The modern age has heralded a shift from the industrial society, in which natural resources are crucial input factors for the economy, towards a knowledge society. To date, sustainability literature has treated knowledge-and in particular digital artifacts-mainly as a means to the end of achieving sustainable development. In this conceptual paper, we argue that digital artifacts themselves ought also to be considered as resources, which also need to be sustainable. While over-consumption is a problem facing natural resources, with sustainable digital artifacts, underproduction, and underuse are the biggest challenges. In our view, the sustainability of digital artifacts improves their potential impact on sustainable development. A theoretical foundation for digital artifacts and their ecosystem allows us to present the relevant research on digital information, knowledge management, digital goods, and innovation literature. Based on these insights, we propose ten basic conditions for sustainable digital artifacts and their ecosystem to ensure that they provide the greatest possible benefit for sustainable development. We then apply those characteristics to four exemplary cases: Linux kernel development, Bitcoin cryptocurrency, t...Continue Reading

References

Feb 12, 2011·Science·Martin Hilbert, Priscila López
May 18, 2011·Journal of Cheminformatics·Matthias SamwaldSusie Stephens

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Citations

Nov 17, 2020·Life Sciences, Society and Policy·Michael MorrisonJane Kaye

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Software Mentioned

Linux
Wikipedia
Wikidata

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