After successful completion of the course, students are able to...

define the term digital transformation from different perspectives, are familiar with relevant contexts which are connected to digital transformation, and understand the impact of digital transformation in work environments and everyday life.

The lecture covers aspects of the digital transformation of society and combines various interdisciplinary approaches to encompass the complexity of the topic.

Starting with some terminological definitions and description of methodological approaches to studying the digital transformation, the course explains the technical, fundamental and theoretical backgrounds such as digital materialism. An overview of relevant technological developments illustrates the inner workings and potentials of current and emerging technologies such as ubiquitous computing, Big Data and machine learning, blockchains and automation techologies. These technologies and their utilization can have wide-ranging and potentially harmful consequences, which the course covers in a session on critical perspectives towards the Digital Transformation, with a special focus on the use of algorithmic systems. The various implications of the digital transformation for work and work environments is covered in three sessions, juxtaposing both the impacts for the individual and companies as a whole alike. Exemplifying two particularly impacted areas of society, governance and health care and the ongoing digital transformations within these vital aspects of society are investigated in two separate sessions. The final sessions are dedicated towards our own everyday lives, shining the spotlight onto examples of how the digital world merges with our personal experiences, and cover a wide range of topics, from social media and entertainment to work-life-balance and our own living environments.

Distance learning (video) lectures are combined with questions and guided discussions to the topics at hand. Additional information in the form of supplemental literature will be provided.

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