"[2] PIT emerged as a field of academic research and action in higher education in 2019 with the establishment of the Public Interest Technology University Network (PIT-UN) by New America.
For instance, using technology for the broad public interest was part of Tim Berners-Lee's original vision for the World Wide Web (WWW).
"[8] In February 2015, the NetGain Partnership[9][10] brought together leaders in government, philanthropy, business, and the tech world to begin strategizing around the shared principles of building a stronger digital society focused on social change and progress.
[24] Fashioned using a similar framework to that of public interest law, PIT is intended to ensure that technology is created and shared in an inclusive and accountable way that protects or improves the lives of all people.
"[25] Public interest technologists are people from a variety of disciplines who share a passion, perspective or expertise related to the conception, governance and presentation of technology.
Public interest technologists may be, but are certainly not limited to, professionals from the following vocations: artists, designers, engineers, lawyers, lobbyists, policy makers, scientists.
"[28] A futurism frame allows for the building of collaborations across sectors that historically have not interacted: scientists, community organizers, developers, artists, designers, writers, social theorists and activists.
[28] As Chuck Robbins and Darren Walker state:"By fostering a new vanguard of cross-disciplinary experts to work across sectors and empowering them with the resources they need to succeed, we can bridge the gaps between the public interest and technology to power a more just and inclusive future for all.