How Innovation is changing the world around you!

I recently stumbled on a programming system that can render the role of ‘Web Developer’ obsolete through the ease of a few keyboard strokes.

I know this is a bit of a detour from the usual content, but I think its important to discuss the innovations currently changing how we do what we do. In the past when you would think of innovation, you’d think of programming, scientists and STEM. However nowadays, it doesn’t really matter what sector or field you’re in. In one way or another automation, innovation and programming is changing how we do work. Exploring this topic in depth is what will drive the future of work for millennials.

I’ve previously worked in innovation, research and development thinktanks and I’ve seen first hand how innovation can lead to change. In the incubator/hub that I worked in we had innovators and tech creators in all fields. They were trying to find solutions to improve things such as how we connect to healthcare resources, how the blind navigates the world, and how technology can reduce water-runoffs in agriculture. It was incredible to see how innovation ebbs and flows through different fields, with the collective aim of improving the status quo. That’s what I will be focusing on today, becoming comfortable with innovation and understanding how its currently changing our world.

1. We don’t see what we don’t understand

For most of us that aren’t STEM majors, or can’t tell the difference between a frontend and a backend developer we tend to shy away from understanding innovation and technology as a whole. We only see the technical knowledge we don’t have, and leave it up to the experts to inform us on what we need to know. That’s probably for the best, but I think if you are curious about a certain aspect of innovation and technology, there are numerous resources available for you to learn from. For instance, I love financial tech — do I understand how the data is rendered to support decision making and reduce the fatigue of rationale actors? No. Absolutely not. However, I’ve taken the time to understand the current landscape of financial tech, familiarize myself with their terminology and I was able to find accessible resources. To see, and understand we must seek to learn. This is how you can slowly immerse yourself to understand how innovation and tech is changing the world.

2. How to wrap our minds around it

Okay great, you’re connected to resources, or you know a few things but what can I do with this information? Well for one, knowledge does not have to always result into a material gain. It is important to remember that learning is good for the sake of learning. However, in this article our aim is to apply what we’re learning so that we can become more conscious of the innovation and technologies we choose to utilize. I personally, have various approvals and blocks on each app on my phone. I’m not a “all access” type of girl with my tech. It’s important to know and establish what your privacy boundaries are with technology. Even if its only on the surface level — because lets be honest most apps already have most of our metadata— but even on the surface level this can slowly improve your relationship with technology and how you choose to use it.

3. Changing the world

Here are some innovations that I think are pretty amazing and changing the world:

Zoom
In a pandemic, this iteration of face to face communication has been keeping the world connected. In a few years, a better version, might come along but the key tenants will remain true, staying connected is human nature.

LifeBank
Health is wealth. This Nigerian company uses Google maps GPS to facilitate deliveries from blood banks to hospitals. They provide on the spot delivery for necessary blood transfusion in life saving moments. This is how innovation saves lives.

AI
You can’t put a pin or a particular company in the lead on AI. Everyone is grasping in every field to utilize AI to improve their processing, product delivery and productivity. Whether it is Alexa from Amazon or Telsa automated driving, AI is here to stay.

VR
VR has taken a back seat for awhile in the mainstream, but its not missed on tech followers around. How VR will impact the way we do what we do might take another decade. However its an innovation to keep an eye out, especially in the expanding world of gaming.

Banking
Institutions that can adapt are institutions that continue to survive during upheavals of innovation. Consumers have more options readily available at their finger tips. How do we encourage conscious banking for the everyday person? By individualizing the experience; focused on monitoring expenses, personalizing debt reduction strategies and encouraging tools that fit the consumers lifestyle.

4. How to continue learning?

I know its hard to continue learning, especially during a pandemic. Its hard to feel motivated, so to make it easier below are some tools I recommend in terms of keeping ontop of new tech and innovation. Take some time to find which aspect or field of innovation that rings true to you, and explore. Tech and innovation is here to stay. In future articles I’ll focus on specific fields, and explore how innovation and technology have been changing their landscape.

Tech Crunch. Gizmodo. The Verge. Axios. Google. Youtube.
Books: Chaos Monkey by Antonio Garcia Martinez, Tools and Weapons by Brad Smith, and The Innovators by Walter Isaacson

Cheers
Faith