Smart, Inclusive, and Sustainable Digital Societies

This book serves as a comprehensive, interdisciplinary exploration of how emerging technologies intersect with human-centric design. The editors have developed five thematic sections that guide the reader from foundational normative principles to the practical application of innovations within education, societal resilience, and governance.

Looking beyond the technical scope, this book emphasises that digital transformation must be conceptualised through inclusive and ethical lenses to remain sustainable. Through a blend of diverse methodologies, including empirical studies and systematic reviews, the text provides a unified narrative on embedding AI and digital tools into institutional and individual contexts to foster long-term trust and accessibility. The primary distinction of this book lies in its sophisticated interdisciplinary synthesis, which successfully bridges the gap between technical computing and the social sciences. This book prioritises a human-centred framework, ensuring that discussions on AI and data analytics are grounded in human values and social equity. Furthermore, the book is characterised by its methodological breadth, offering readers a robust toolkit that includes design-based research, mixed-method studies, and system evaluations. This diversity makes the content accessible to both theorists and practitioners. A final key differentiator is the volume’s focus on applied resilience and governance. By addressing the nuances of trust and decision support, the book serves as more than just a scholarly reference; it is an actionable guide for implementing digital transformation initiatives that are both ethically sound and practically viable in real-world settings.

The primary audience consists of researchers and academics in fields such as Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Artificial Intelligence, and the social sciences who require rigorous frameworks for their work. The secondary audience includes policymakers and practitioners who are tasked with the governance and implementation of digital initiatives. These professionals will benefit from the book’s evidence-based insights into inclusive design and ethical AI. This book is part of the book series, Technology for Smart Environments and Sustainable Futures

Norliza Katuk, the primary editor, is an associate professor of cybersecurity at the School of Computing, Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM). Her research interests include information security and privacy, and cybersecurity awareness, and she has published widely in international journals and serves as a reviewer for several esteemed publications.

Noradila Nordin is a lecturer in Computer Programming at the School of Games & Creative Technology at the University for the Creative Arts in the United Kingdom. Her research interests include augmented reality, artificial intelligence applications, and wireless sensor networks.

Roberto Vergallo is a tenured assistant professor of Software Engineering and Green Computing at Pegaso University (Italy). His research interests include fintech, sustainable software engineering, green AI, and digital ethics. He is co-founder of Vidyasoft srl, a spin-off company of Salento University (Italy).