Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Social Innovation
The industrial revolution changed the world in the early 1800's. The technological revolution is doing likewise today. It has effected and continues to effect education, trade, energy production, and human relations. Technology makes the world smaller and its populations much more accessible. It is astounding to think of the good that could be done for humanity with these advancements. Ray Kurzweil, entrepreneur and inventor, quoted Bono in a 2005 Ted talk by making the claim, "we have the tools for the first time to address age old problems of disease and poverty." Additionally, students worldwide could have open access to learning tools to enable them with skills and knowledge. Energy could be harnessed from the sun in remarkably efficient ways. The potential exceeds imagination. However there is currently a weak link between humanitarian efforts and technology. Minds are set on faster internet, smaller devices, and revenue. I feel we will be holding humanity back until that mindset changes.
The accelerating power of technology
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It is amazing the advances that have happened in the past few decades. Though I wonder how much has been hindered by greed.
ReplyDeleteSo if we live with slower Internet, larger devices, and less revenue, humanitarian efforts will go up? On the contrary, faster Internet lets us do more with big data so we can make an impact on a larger, global scale. Miniaturization allows us to make technology convenient and accessible, something humanitarian organizations desperately need. More revenue lets us put more of it back into the economy and charity efforts, propelling goodwill around the world. I don't think the proper correlation here is between technology and humanitarian aid; rather, it's about cultivating more virtuous and charitable families in society so that our resources will go toward those who don't have what we do.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about that lately with respect to disability. Today, with technology that we have, we can actually give people with disability tools to access all the same things people without disability can. I really hope that will happen in the near future.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that it has to be one or the other. You are right in suggesting a need for a shift in mindset and motives. If the goal to make things better and faster just because we are innovating and we can then it is all rather pointless.
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