Supporting Oracle Customer Information System Adoption Through Internship-Based Training Development; Facial Recognition, Policing, and the Duty to Respect Persons: A Kantian Analysis of the Robert Williams Arrest 5 views

My technical project and my STS research are connected through the broader idea of how technology affects people, especially in systems where decisions have real consequences. Both projects focus on how technology is used in practice, but they approach the issue differently. My technical report focuses on improving how people interact with enterprise systems during digital transformation, while my STS research paper examines the ethical consequences of relying on technology in policing. Although the topics are different, both projects highlight that technology is not neutral and that its impact depends on how it is designed and used. My technical work is informed by my internship at Ernst & Young, where I worked on an Oracle Customer Information System implementation for a gas utility client. While the project included structured training materials, it highlighted a broader issue common in enterprise systems: employees are often expected to learn complex workflows without enough interactive or hands-on support. This can make it difficult for users to fully understand how to operate within new systems. To address this issue, my project proposes a human-centered training platform that allows users to simulate real tasks, receive feedback, and track their progress. The goal is to improve user understanding and support more effective system adoption during digital transformation. My STS research focuses on the case of Robert Williams, who was wrongfully arrested after being misidentified by facial recognition technology used by the Detroit Police Department. Using a Kantian duty ethics framework, I argue that the arrest was morally wrong because it failed to treat Williams as a person with dignity and autonomy. Robert Williams was treated as a means to achieve investigative efficiency when law enforcement relied on an algorithmic match without strong, independent evidence. The decision-making process also lacked transparency, which limited his ability to respond as a rational agent. This case shows that the issue is not only about technical errors, but also about how technology can be used in ways that harm individuals. Working on both of these projects at the same time helped me better understand the importance of considering both usability and ethics in technology. My technical project focuses on improving how users learn and interact with systems, while my STS research highlights the risks of relying on systems without sufficient ethical responsibility. Together, they show that designing effective technology is not just about functionality, but also about ensuring that systems are used in ways that respect and protect people. In the future, I will apply these lessons by thinking more carefully about how the technologies I work on affect users and society as a whole.

BS (Bachelor of Science)

Facial Recognition; Oracle CIS; System Adoption; Training

School of Engineering and Applied Science Bachelor of Science in Computer Science Technical Advisor: Rosanne Vrugtman STS Advisor: Benjamin Laugelli

English

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2026-05-08