PRACTICAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES OF PERSISTENT BEHAVIORAL AND NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL MONITORIZATION FOR HUMAN PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION
PRACTICAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES OF PERSISTENT BEHAVIORAL AND NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL MONITORIZATION FOR HUMAN PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION

Summary/Abstract: While not a new concept, human performance optimization (HPO) was virtually reorchestrated in the last decades by the rapid advancements in neurosciences, artificial intelligence, human-machine/computer interfaces, human medicine and microelectronics. Widespread acceptance and implementation of this concept especially at the university level and in specialized professions, both in civilian and military environments, raised technical and ethical questions and dilemmas. For example, persistent performances monitorization is an essential tool for recruitment, selection and optimization process that requires an extensive physiological, neurophysiological, emotional status and behavioral data collection. Multiple methods of data gathering can be employed – from direct (contact), limited in time and informed techniques controlled by the subject to non-contact, anonymous and indirect methods, for long periods of time, sometimes involving other subjects. The technical capabilities are rapidly expanding and are already allowing the anonime surveillance of large number of persons in situ (during normal routine, in public and even private spaces). The same problem is commune in digital medicine (for example, in behavioral digital phenotyping) and several initiatives are in progress, their scope being limited in particular by ethical and legislative issues and less by technical problems. In our paper we discuss the particular topic of performances monitorization from the perspective of several researches, from scientific literature and our own scenarios, in the field of human performance optimization. A comparative discussion based on the presentation and analysis of several systems and configurations used in our own research will allow us to provide an answer to the question “Are the pragmatic benefits of persistent performance monitorization outweighs the moral, ethical and security concerns for military professions?”

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