In Machines We Trust: Do Interactivity and Recordability undermine Democratic Technologies?

S. Shyam Sundar, Akshaya Sreenivasan

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

When information and communication technologies are deployed for development (ICTD), a necessary condition for success is their acceptance and adoption. Recipients should trust a given ICT and believe in its welfare potential. However, certain features of modern ICTs, such as collecting and storing user information, may serve to undermine user trust in ICTs. We examine this possibility by investigating whether technological affordances of the electronic voting machine (EVM) trigger user perceptions about the machine and affect faith in democratic institutions. A survey (N=179) of Indian voters in New Delhi on the day of general elections in 2014 reveals that interactivity and recordability are negative predictors of trust in EVMs. Interactive machines were also considered less cool and less dependable. Theoretical and design implications of the findings are discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 7th International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies and Development, ICTD 2015
PublisherAssociation for Computing Machinery
ISBN (Electronic)9781450331630
DOIs
StatePublished - May 15 2015
Event7th International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies and Development, ICTD 2015 - Singapore, Singapore
Duration: May 15 2015May 18 2015

Publication series

NameACM International Conference Proceeding Series
Volume15

Other

Other7th International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies and Development, ICTD 2015
Country/TerritorySingapore
CitySingapore
Period5/15/155/18/15

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Software
  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
  • Computer Networks and Communications

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