For researcher Barry Fitzgerald, superheroes like Iron Man are no longer a fantasy. He aims to use technology to create actual superhuman powers that have a positive influence on society.

As a teacher, he uses these superpowers and superheroes to promote scientific and engineering concepts in the classroom. “But I am also interested in responsible innovation”, says Fitzgerald. “We have to take into account the possible effects of technology on the environment and society.”

The fictional powered exoskeleton Tony Stark puts on to become Iron Man might not be such a responsible innovation. “But the question is, should we try and replicate exactly what the iron man suit is? Because I certainly do not want to create superhuman powers and dump them onto society.” For Fitzgerald, such technology should have a positive influence and has to be done in a responsible and ethical way. “If we don’t do that, we will create many more problems for ourselves in the future.”

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