Thursday’s Big Idea
Today's Big Idea: Humanizing Technology
We have all experienced “dehumanizing” technology – software or hardware that seems to diminish our ability to communicate with others or to function effectively in the world. Technology that creates new boundaries between people rather than erasing old ones.
With this in mind, Big Think is excited to announce Humanizing Technology, a virtual expo in partnership with Bing. The goal of Humanizing Technology – which will culminate in June, 2012 with a live event and prize ceremony in New York City – is to identify new technologies that integrate themselves seamlessly into our lives, capitalize on our unique strengths, and amplify the best of human nature.
Sometimes the most humanizing uses of technology are invented by technology's end-users rather than its creators. Thinkmodo, a highly sought-after viral marketing agency in New York, has achieved staggering success by sticking to a DIY aesthetic and ancient storytelling principles. While it maximizes its reach via YouTube and social media, its ad campaigns are filmed on iPhones with no CGI and no mention of the product. A powerful reminder that human creativity is at least as essential to success as is technological sophistication.
