Category Archives: 21st Century Human

The Fusion of Tech and Creativity Driving Innovation

11 Wednesday Dec 2024

Posted by in 21st Century Human, Innovation, Technologists Toolkit

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In today’s rapidly evolving world, where technology advances at an unprecedented pace, the fusion of tech and creativity has become a crucible of innovation. This dynamic interplay is not only transforming our lives, businesses, industries, and daily experiences but also redefining the boundaries of what technology can achieve. By merging imaginative thinking with cutting-edge tech, we’re forging new pathways filled with innovative solutions and boundless possibilities.

The Catalyst for Innovation

Creativity is one of the secret sauces driving technological innovation and satisfying the demands of today’s busy world. It’s the visionary and innovative thinking that turns ambitious ideas into reality. Whether it’s developing new software, designing user-friendly interfaces, or crafting compelling digital content, creativity fuels the advancement of technology. The journey from concept to execution requires imaginative thinking, bridging the gap between the abstract and the tangible.

Software Development: Creativity in Code

Consider developing new software, which starts with an idea to solve a problem or improve user experience. For example, creating Slack revolutionised workplace communication. The goal was to simplify communication and make it as intuitive as possible. By blending creativity with technical knowledge, the creators designed a user-friendly interface that mimicked social media’s engaging elements, like emojis and quick responses, while maintaining the functionality needed for professional environments.

User-Friendly Interfaces: Enhancing Accessibility

Creativity is key to designing user-friendly interfaces. For instance, Apple’s iOS succeeds due to its simple, intuitive design. The creativity involved in making technology accessible and enjoyable to use is a prime example of how visionary thinking can turn complex concepts into straightforward, usable products. Developing their touchscreen interface was a creative leap in how users interact with devices.

Compelling Digital Content: Engaging Audiences

When it comes to crafting compelling digital content, creativity is the driving force behind engaging storytelling and immersive experiences. Consider Netflix’s strategy for its original content. Programs such as “Stranger Things” and “The Crown” exemplify not only high-quality production and technical sophistication but also heavy reliance on creative storytelling that captivates audiences. Integrating data analytics to understand viewer preferences and creative scripting to meet those expectations illustrates the perfect harmony of tech and creativity.

Bridging the Gap: Concept to Execution

The journey from concept to execution in any technological project requires bridging the gap between abstract ideas and tangible realities. Developing autonomous vehicles merges advanced technology with creative problem-solving. Engineers and designers collaborate to make these vehicles functional, safe, and user-friendly. Creativity is crucial in crafting algorithms that interpret and respond to the real world in real-time.

The Role of Tech in Unleashing Creativity

Technology enhances human creativity, offering tools like AI, machine learning, and VR/AR. AI generates music, art, and writing, inspiring collaboration. VR and AR create immersive environments, bringing creative visions to life.

The Synergy in Action

The gaming industry combines technology and creativity. Game design involves coding, storytelling, world-building, and character development. Titles like “The Legend of Zelda” and “The Last of Us” show how these elements create engaging player experiences.

The Legend of Zelda

The Legend of Zelda series blends complex coding with storytelling and world-building, creating an adventure loved by players globally.

Technical Mastery: Nintendo’s team codes detailed open worlds. The physics engine in “Breath of the Wild” allows realistic activities like climbing, cooking, and tool usage.

Creative Storytelling: The narrative follows the protagonist, Link, on a quest to save Princess Zelda and the kingdom of Hyrule. The story is conveyed through dialogue, environment, music, and gameplay mechanics, providing an immersive experience.

World-Building: The realm of Hyrule encompasses intricate landscapes, dungeons, and characters. Each instalment expands the world’s history and lore, motivating players to unearth secrets and explore diverse areas.

The Last of Us

The Last of Us series by Naughty Dog, published by Sony, is noted for its advanced technical features and storytelling.

Technical Excellence: The game features high-quality graphics and realistic animations, using motion capture to depict characters’ expressions and movements accurately.

Emotional Storytelling: The narrative follows Joel and Ellie navigating a world affected by a fungal infection, dealing with themes such as loss, hope, and survival. The writing, voice acting, and character development add to the complexity of the characters’ journey.

Atmospheric World-Building: The game’s environment features abandoned buildings, overgrown vegetation, and detailed scenery. Each location is created to support the narrative, offering context and atmosphere that engage players in the setting.

Additional Examples of Tech and Creativity in Gaming

Minecraft: This sandbox game lets players build anything with simple blocks, from castles to cities. Its simplicity masks its vast creative potential.

Red Dead Redemption 2: Rockstar Games’ standout title offers stunning visuals, realistic physics, and an immersive storyline in the American frontier, redefining open-world games.

Journey: Thatgamecompany’s “Journey” delivers a visual feast and emotional experience through minimalist design and seamless multiplayer integration without direct communication.

Transforming Education and Beyond

Technology enhances education with interactive tools, engaging learning, and personalised teaching methods, creating an inclusive environment.

Enhancing Education with Technology and Creativity

The education sector is transforming due to technology and creativity. Interactive tools and platforms use tech to make learning engaging and dynamic, simplifying complex subjects.

Interactive Educational Tools

Khan Academy: Offers free resources in subjects like math, science, and humanities with interactive exercises, videos, and personalised dashboards for engaging, self-paced learning.

Duolingo: Makes language learning fun and interactive with gamified elements like levels and rewards. Its short lessons fit easily into daily routines.

Immersive Learning Experiences

Virtual Reality (VR) in Education: VR allows students to have immersive experiences by exploring historical sites, oceans, or human cells in 3D. For example, Google Expeditions provides virtual field trips that support learning about cultures, geography, and science.

Augmented Reality (AR) Apps: AR apps like Quiver transform colouring pages into interactive 3D models. Students colour a page, then use the Quiver app to animate their drawings, enhancing engagement and retention.

Personalised Learning

Adaptive Learning Platforms: Tools like DreamBox Learning and IXL use adaptive technology to personalise education. They assess a student’s performance and adjust lessons accordingly, offering support where needed and advanced challenges for those who excel. This approach allows students to learn at their own pace.

Flipped Classroom Models: Technology supports flipped classroom models in which students watch lecture videos at home and engage in interactive activities in the classroom. Platforms such as Edpuzzle allow teachers to embed questions and discussions within video lessons, increasing interactivity and helping ensure that students understand the material before applying it in class.

Collaborative Learning Tools

Google Classroom: This tool facilitates the efficient distribution of assignments, sharing of resources, and communication between students and educators. It supports real-time collaboration on documents, presentations, and projects.

Padlet: Padlet is a digital board for notes, images, links, and videos. It supports collaboration and creativity, ideal for brainstorming and group projects.

Challenges and Considerations

Addressing data privacy, intellectual property, and automation’s job impact is crucial at the tech-creativity intersection. Solutions must ensure technology enhances, not diminishes, the human experience.

As technology merges with creativity, ethical challenges arise that need careful attention to maintain a positive human experience. Key issues include data privacy, intellectual property, and the job impact of automation.

Data Privacy

Challenge: The increase of AI and data-driven technologies has raised concerns regarding individual privacy protection. Personal data is frequently collected, analysed, and stored by various platforms, often without users’ full consent or understanding.

Example: Social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter gather extensive data on user behaviours, preferences, and interactions. While this data can enhance user experience and provide personalised content, it also has the potential for misuse. The Cambridge Analytica incident demonstrated how personal data obtained from Facebook was used to influence political campaigns, raising significant ethical and privacy questions.

Intellectual Property

Challenge: As AI and automated systems advance in their ability to create content—such as music, art, and literature—the issue of intellectual property rights becomes increasingly complex. A pertinent question arises: Who holds the copyright for a piece of music composed by an AI? Additionally, how can we safeguard the rights of original human creators?

Example: AI-generated art has sparked debates regarding copyright. For instance, the sale of the AI-created painting “Portrait of Edmond de Belamy” at Christie’s for $432,500 raised questions about who should appropriately receive the credit and financial rewards—the developers who programmed the AI or the AI itself. It is clear that legal frameworks governing intellectual property must evolve to address these emerging challenges.

Impact of Automation on Jobs

Challenge: Automation driven by AI and robotics has the capability to change job markets, potentially leading to economic and social adjustments. While technological advancements can generate new opportunities, they may also make certain skills and professions less relevant, thereby affecting employment.

Example: The introduction of automated manufacturing and logistics has led to changes in sectors such as automotive production and warehousing. Companies like Amazon use robots for tasks previously done by human workers, including sorting and packaging. This increases efficiency but reduces the need for manual labour, necessitating a societal move towards reskilling and adapting the workforce to new types of employment.

Algorithmic Bias and Fairness

Challenge: AI systems can reflect biases present in training data, resulting in potentially unequal outcomes. Ensuring fairness in AI is important to avoid discriminatory effects.

Example: Facial recognition technology has more difficulty identifying people with darker skin tones compared to those with lighter skin tones, which can lead to misidentifications. Companies are making efforts to enhance AI fairness, but continuous attention to ethics is necessary.

Looking Ahead

As technology and creativity continue to evolve, their combined potential can drive significant advancements. By leveraging this interaction, new innovations can be achieved, enhancing various aspects of life, work, and communication. The intersection of technology and creativity serves as a foundation for future developments and discoveries. Together, they offer the possibility of a more innovative and inventive world.

Embracing the Future: Tech and Creativity Co-Creating Transformative Experiences

Technology and creativity together can transform our lives. This synergy fosters innovation, enhancing how we live, work, and connect. Here are some examples demonstrating this potential.

Smart Cities: Enhancing Urban Living

Songdo International Business District in South Korea exemplifies enhanced urban living.

Innovation: Songdo is a smart city using advanced technology and urban planning. IoT devices optimise traffic, energy use, and public safety for residents.

Impact: These innovations enhance life quality by reducing congestion, cutting energy use, and ensuring safety. Creative design keeps the city attractive and sustainable.

Healthcare: Revolutionising Patient Care

An example of revolutionising patient care is telemedicine and AI diagnostics:

Innovation: Telemedicine platforms like Teladoc enable remote consultations with healthcare providers. AI tools, like IBM’s Watson Health, help diagnose diseases and suggest treatments by analysing medical data.

Impact: These technologies improve healthcare accessibility, especially in remote areas, and increase diagnosis accuracy and personalised treatment, resulting in better health outcomes.

Education: Transforming Learning Experiences

An example of immersive learning environments:

Innovation: ClassVR offers VR and AR experiences, letting students explore history, conduct science experiments, or travel to space from their classroom.

Impact: These immersive experiences make learning engaging and memorable, helping students grasp complex concepts through interactive methods and boosting enthusiasm.

Workplaces: Redefining Collaboration and Productivity

An example of remote work and collaboration tools

Innovation: Tools like Microsoft Teams and Zoom enable efficient remote collaboration. Virtual reality platforms like Spatial offer immersive virtual workspaces.

Impact: These technologies enhance team collaboration, flexibility, and productivity, and foster creativity through new interaction methods.

Environmental Sustainability: Innovating for a Greener Future

Example: Renewable Energy and Smart Grids

Innovation: Advanced technologies such as smart grids and renewable energy sources, including solar and wind, are being incorporated to develop more sustainable energy systems. Initiatives like solar and wave energy exemplify how innovative methods of energy production and distribution can significantly reduce our carbon footprint.

Impact: These advancements contribute to addressing climate change by encouraging the use of clean energy and enhancing energy efficiency. Moreover, they stimulate further research and development in sustainable technologies, fostering progress towards a greener future.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the powerful synergy between technology and creativity is shaping our world in extraordinary ways. From the dynamic innovations in gaming and education to the transformative impacts on healthcare and urban living, the intersection of these fields offers limitless possibilities.

As we embrace the future, the fusion of creative thinking with technological advancements promises to continually push the boundaries of what is possible, driving progress and enhancing our everyday lives. Let us continue to champion this collaborative spirit, harnessing the full potential of tech and creativity to build a brighter, more innovative tomorrow.

How will you be creative today?

The Impact of Mentorship in Tech Education

08 Sunday Dec 2024

Posted by in 21st Century Human, STEM

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In the ever-evolving landscape of technology and education, mentorship plays a pivotal role in helping to shaping the future of the industry. As technology progresses at a breakneck pace, continuous learning and effective mentorship have become essential components for success. Mentorship not only bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application but also fosters a collaborative environment where innovation thrives.

I am just ending a 2 month STEM mentoring programme where I have been mentoring students through a STEM platform. This has been an interesting and sometimes difficult way of mentoring someone as I am normally mentoring face to face or via a video conference call.

Interesting and sometimes difficult as you don’t really know the person on the other side of the screen as you might normally to help tailor advice and read body language to gauge if your advice and guidance is resonating. You can only ask and respond to questions which make you think longer and harder about the language and tone of your questions and answers, then sending them in and awaiting approval via the monitored and recorded platform. The great thing about the platform I was using was the help and guidance from the central team, stimulating conversation through suggesting topics to discuss for both mentor and mentee.

This experience has been educational to me as I hope as much for the students I have been helping. I have learnt more about considering my responses in a mentoring session and about the value and outcomes of the answers I have given, which I will be taking into my other mentoring sessions.

The main lesson for me has been about being more succinct in a written response and writing in a way to keep it engaging for the students. They wanted to hear about experiences have been and what lessons have been learnt. Tailoring and customising advice and support to help them learn to overcome specific challenges, for instance mastering a new programming language in short paragraphs and not into a book is a good skill for anyone to learn. As the saying goes Keep it Simple!

Looking further a field though outside of STEM opportunities there is a gap of industry mentoring back into education to help bridge the gap between students taking courses and graduating, and joining the business world.

The key benefits of this would be:

  • Personalised guidance and support
  • Bridging the gap between theory and practice
  • Building confidence and professional networks
  • Encouraging lifelong learning
  • Promoting diversity and inclusion

It would be good to see more of this type of mentoring going on to help fulfil the growing number of vacancies in the tech world and also encourage more students into the field of tech.

Turning Failures into Success: The Mindset of Failing Forward for Technologists

16 Friday Aug 2024

Posted by in 21st Century Human, Technologists Toolkit, Tools

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As technologists, we often find ourselves navigating a landscape of constant innovation, rapid changes, and complex problem-solving. In this dynamic environment, failure is not only inevitable but also an essential part of our journey.

Rather than fearing failure, we can learn to embrace it as a catalyst for personal growth and professional development.

”Failure is another stepping stone to greatness” – Oprah Winfrey

What Is Failing Forward?

“Failing forward” is a mindset that encourages us to view failures as steps toward success. Instead of seeing failure as a problem and something that causes issues and pain with no way forward, look at it as a valuable learning experience that strengthens you going forward. Embrace the failure, learn from it and move onwards.

Learning Opportunities

Every failure provides an opportunity to learn. Whether this is a missed deadline, code bug, or something else, there is always a learning and something for you to gain from the experience.

Reflecting on what you did and what happened can help inform you and allow you to make decisions based on experience gained. Extract the lessons that can help shape your future and if needed write them down so you can refer to them at a later date.

“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” – Thomas A. Edison

Iterative Improvements

Learning from failures allows you to try again and approaching things in iterative improvements and steps brings you closer to success. Even the most successful products and technologies available today went through multiple iterations before reaching their current state.

Resilience

Resilience is build through failing forward and is a crucial skill for technologists, especially in a field where challenges are constant. Developing ability to bounce back, adapt, and keep moving forward helps to build this resilience.

Normalize Failure

Normalizing failure is the hardest step as not everyone wants to see or hear of failure, but most will experience it within their lives. Sharing failure with others and celebrating the learning from it helps to bring a change in talking positively about failure.

It’s okay to stumble; it’s part of the journey, learn from it.

Mastering Storytelling Through Dungeons & Dragons: A Guide for Technologists

21 Friday Jun 2024

Posted by in 21st Century Human, Story Telling, Technologists Toolkit, Tools

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Let’s geek out for a moment. If you’re a technologist eager to master storytelling, Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) might just be your secret weapon. Whether you’re a seasoned player from your school days or someone who’s never rolled a twenty-sided die, there’s something in D&D for you. And if you’re new to the realm of tabletop RPGs, buckle up for an adventure that’s as educational as it is entertaining.

D&D is a fantasy table top role-playing game (RPG) where players embark on imaginary adventures within a fantasy setting. A player designated as the Dungeon Master (DM) serves as the game’s referee and storyteller, while also maintaining the setting in which the adventures occur, and playing the role of the inhabitants. Players each create characters to represent themselves within the game, making choices for their characters and engaging in a structured yet open-ended storytelling experience. The outcomes of the characters’ choices are determined by the rules of the game, how the DM tells the story and player choices guided by dice rolls which add an element of chance to the proceedings. It provides a unique blend of structured rules and spontaneous storytelling which allow for an immersive gaming experience that encourages creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving.

Storytelling is an essential skill in the world of business and technology. It’s not just about conveying information; it’s about engaging your audience, sharing experiences, and inspiring action.

For technologists, whose work often involves complex concepts, data and understanding the customers business needs and outcomes. The ability to tell a compelling story can be the difference between being heard and being overlooked.

Enter Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), the classic fantasy role-playing game known for its rich narratives and imaginative gameplay. You may be familiar with D&D and it may seem like a something that should be dismissed, however it is a powerful tool for honing the art of storytelling and building your skills.

If you get an opportunity to try, it is worth a go. If not there are lots of good videos on YouTube with games you can watch and learn from.

Also worth noting that this Saturday 22nd June is Free RPG Day where you can go to a gaming shop and try out some RPG and walk away with a short free game to play. Some will be available on the internet if your not able to attend an event.

Here’s how playing D&D can transform technologists into master storytellers.

Embrace Creativity and Improvisation

D&D is a game of imagination. Players create characters and embark on adventures in a fantasy world, guided by a Dungeon Master (DM) who narrates the story. This requires a high level of creativity and the ability to improvise, as the narrative can change with each roll of the dice.

Technologists can learn from this by practicing how to think on their feet and adapt their narratives to suit different audiences and situations. Whether you’re explaining a new software feature or pitching an innovative product, the ability to weave a story that resonates with your listeners is invaluable.

Understand Your Audience

A good DM knows their players and crafts a story that caters to their interests and motivations. Similarly, technologists must understand their audience to communicate effectively. By playing D&D, you learn to anticipate reactions, tailor your message, and engage listeners by addressing their needs and desires.

Understanding your audience is a critical skill for technologists including recognising the diverse needs, preferences, and challenges faced by business and the end users. A technologist needs to tailor the approach to the audience’s level of expertise, interests, and expectations using language that is accessible, providing examples that are relatable, and anticipating questions or concerns that may arise. Storytelling provides the way to do this and by putting yourself in the audience’s shoes, you can communicate more effectively, and ultimately, ensure that your story achieves the intended impact.

Develop Empathy

Role-playing in D&D requires players to step into the shoes of their characters, understanding their backgrounds, motivations, and emotions. This exercise in empathy is directly transferable to the world of technology. By understanding the user’s perspective, technologists can create more user-centric products and explain them in a way that highlights their benefits to the end-user.

For technologists, developing empathy is about more than just understanding users’ needs. Developing skills and ability to see beyond the data and algorithm, to the people they impact provides a deeper prospective and helps build a stronger story to tell. It is also important to listen actively, asking the right questions, and being open to feedback.

Collaborate and Build Teamwork

D&D is a collaborative game. Players work together, each contributing their unique skills to achieve a common goal. In the tech industry, collaboration is key. Working on projects, especially in agile environments, mirrors the teamwork in D&D. Learning to collaborate in the game can improve how you work with others professionally, leading to more cohesive and successful outcomes.

Collaboration and teamwork are not just beneficial to a technologist; they are essential. Building a culture of teamwork means fostering an environment where diverse ideas and skills converge to innovate and solve complex problems. A good technologist recognises that the sum of a team’s collective expertise is greater than its individual parts. Using a team to help develop the story and sound/test it on can help push the boundaries of what’s possible and drive technological advancement.

Playing Dungeons & Dragons is more than just entertainment; it’s a training ground for the mind. It teaches technologists to be creative, empathetic, and collaborative storytellers. Playing games like D&D (other RPG’s are available) can help sharpen your storytelling skills as well as having some fun.

Further Reading

Data Storytelling

Green Software for Practitioners

13 Saturday Apr 2024

Posted by in 21st Century Human, Climate Change

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Recently I have undertaken the Green Software for Practitioners (LFC131) course and exam from the Linux Foundation which I found to be an informative course. I decided to write this article as it is a course that I would recommend to IT Professionals no matter what specialism you have. It is also a free course and exam that provides a certificate and digital badge that show you have an understanding of the topic and some principles to apply to help reduce carbon emissions.

The course covers the topic list below in good detail and provides an insight into each area, with a knowledge check at the end.

  • Carbon Efficiency
  • Energy Efficiency
  • Carbon Awareness
  • Hardware Efficiency
  • Measurement
  • Climate Commitments

The exam is 20 questions and requires an 85% pass mark in order to complete.

This course may not provide all the answers but does provide a good level for you to understand the topic.

Further Reading

To provide some further reading on climate change the article linked below is one that I helped write on preparing your business for climate change.

https://www.bcs.org/articles-opinion-and-research/preparing-your-business-for-climate-change

Boosting productivity with a Personal Knowledge Management System for 2024

02 Tuesday Jan 2024

Posted by in 21st Century Human, Mindset, Productivity, Tools

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As 2024 begins I have updated my PKMS (Personal Knowledge Management System) to keep up with the latest developments in knowledge management and my own priorities. You can use this as a pattern to help create your own PKMS and stay informed and ahead of the curve.

A PKMS is a system that can help you manage and organise personal knowledge, which includes information that is relevant to your personal and professional life.

A well crafted and maintained PKMS can provide a capability for:

  1. Continuous Learning:
    • Together with a growth mindset a PKMS facilitates a structured approach to acquiring, organising, and reviewing knowledge.
  2. Increased Productivity:
    • Access to relevant organised information as you need it, keeping you ahead of the curve.
  3. Knowledge Retention:
    • Ability to store and retrieve information as required in an organised repository.
  4. Adaptability:
    • Technology, Information and Data evolves on a daily basis and it is important to stay informed.

I still believe strongly in separating my personal social and business social, although there is the occasional need for the two to cross. These are the tools that I use. There are lots of other tools available that you could use to build a PKMS yourself.

Personal Life

Personal Journal

My go to notebook of choice for Journaling is still the Moleskine plain pocket book and I am on journal number 37, soon to be no 38. Its quality and paper is good enough for my needs and archival quality. I still favour the Pilot ball ink pens (0.5 or 0.7) as they flow nicely on the page. See my blog post No batteries required for further details.

Social Media

In keeping my work life separate from my personal life, I use platforms such as Instagram and Facebook for friends and family with appropriate two factory and security settings in place. Even with those settings you still need to consider that once something is online, it could be public in the future.

Professional Life

Research

This is split into several areas and these are a few of the inputs that I use to grab information, feeds, data from:

  • Streaming Services
  • RSS Feeds
  • Podcasts
  • TED Talks
  • Web Searches
  • Blog Posts
  • Courses
  • Reading

This is a high level list of the types of content that I gain information from for research and learning.

Streaming Services covers platforms such as YouTube. The availability of cameras and online streaming platforms, more content is being made available and recorded by people to pass on their knowledge.

RSS Feeds low my to pull updates from sites into Feedly.

Podcasts cover both Audio and Video casts that I watch/stream online or download to my Phone / Media Player (Audio and Videos) to listen to when I am on journeys in the car or other transportation methods or out walking the dog. Daily walks with the dog provide a good time to listen to these.

The amount of online learning available today is huge from free MOOC’s (Massive Open Online Courses) to paid for course such as Udemy and LinkedIn. Lots of vendors now provide a good level of free training for their products and solutions. This category also covers courses that I can take through work.

Feedly

Feedly provides an aggregation tool which I use to collect the stories from blogs and web sites.  This provides a list of stories that can be scanned tin a few minutes on a single screen without going via multiple sites. Clicking on a story will bring up a snippet from the source site and provide the link to read the source article if required. Using a series of key strokes you can read the headlines, then move down the articles at a reasonable speed, stopping and opening when needed.

Sources can be categorised to allow an all view or just whats new in a category.

Thinking Time

Thinking Time covers the time that I spend absorbing the PKMS information coming in from the different sources and then also process and apply in different ways. It is also good to spend time reflecting on what I have learnt and think of different and new way to use the information and learnings.

Note Taking

I use two tools now for note taking, OneNote and Obsidian. I favour obsidian as it uses markdown which I use a lot in GitHub for documentation, and its ability to structure data in a logical way and allows you to query data in an interactive graph.

Blogging and Being Social

Following my Thinking Time I gather my thoughts and research and write these down through my blogs and podcasts and publish these on Social Media, WordPress and GitHub.

AI

I have not yet introduced any AI to my PKMS, but hopefully in 2024 I will find the right tool to help automate and filter the information I am consuming and keep me on top of my learning.

Further Reading

If you are looking for inspiration in creating your own PKMS, Reddit has a great list of PKMS tools that is worth a look and a discussion board on setting up a PKMS.

Thought Police? It’s all getting a bit 1984

09 Friday Jun 2023

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A new article on the BBC website caught my attention this morning “Warning firms may use brain data to watch workers“. Research and development into the ability to use brain waves and patterns to control things and help people interact with the real world has been going on for some years. Timely as I picked up a copy of 1984 by George Orwell at a jumble sale last month to reread again and am part way through the novel at the moment.

“Brain waves were first discovered in animals in 1875. Hans Berger was the first to record them in humans in 1925. He was so surprised by the results that he did not publish them until 1929 and was met with skepticism for some time. But by the 1950s, EEGs became widespread in its use for detecting brain activity. ”

source www.scienceworld.ca

Fast forward to modern times and Elon Musk is capturing the news with his Neuralink brain chip research into developing a chip that can be placed inside a human head to interface with things. Musk isn’t the only company developing this type of technology and the patents for different techs are being created and filed.

Regulatory bodies and governments are moving at pace to ensure that a good level of legislation, governance and regulation sits across the fast moving technology breakthroughs. There has already been legislation, guidance and strategies published by many countries on emerging technologies such as AI and Quantum Computing.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) in the UK have previously released insight on Biometrics and is not looking into Neurotechnology.

Are we heading into the world of cyborgs. Most probably yes. There are already products available to hack your body with from magnets to NFC and RFID chips to open doors and make payments which can be implanted into your hand.

Back to the news article I opened this blog with and a number of questions immediately jump out, will companies / governments be able to read our thoughts in the future? Will Thinkpol become a reality? What does this type of technology do to GDPR and other regulations? What is the intersection between AI and Neurotechnology and what is the impact? There are lots of questions like this which are aimed to be looked at in the ICO’s insight into Neurotechnology and other reports and investigations being carried out.

The benefits though to medicine and helping people is huge and all points of view should be considered and well balanced when looking at the pros, cons and regulation of this emerging technology.

Its too early to answer any of these yet however it is an interesting area of technology that is developing rapidly and one to watch.

How to Become a 21st Century Human: Navigating the Digital Age

10 Friday Mar 2023

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In today’s digital age, it’s more important than ever to cultivate the skills and mindset necessary to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Technology is advancing at a rapid rate – The Digital Era is enabling “A Growth Mindset in the Age of Abundance”’ – keeping up can be a challenge.

Being a 21st century human means being adaptable, flexible, and technologically literate.

So what can you do to become a 21st century human?

1. Embrace Lifelong Learning

One of the most important things you can do to become a 21st century human is to embrace lifelong learning. This means being curious and constantly seeking new knowledge and skills, whether it’s through formal education or informal learning opportunities. In the digital age, new technologies and tools are constantly emerging, and staying up-to-date on the latest trends and developments is essential for staying relevant. Online learning is bringing new opportunities to learn new skills rapidly and through the growth of the internet you can find information quickly.

2. Develop Digital Literacy

Another key aspect of being a 21st century human is developing digital literacy. This means having a basic understanding of how digital technologies work, as well as the ability to use them effectively. Some key digital literacy skills include:

  • Basic computer skills, such as typing, using a mouse, and navigating software programs
  • Online communication skills, such as email etiquette, video conferencing, and instant messaging
  • Social media skills, such as creating and managing profiles, sharing content, and engaging with others
  • Cybersecurity awareness, such as understanding the risks of online behavior and how to protect your personal information

Another Digital Literacy skill you may wish to undertake is to learn a programming language. Not necessarily to become a programmer, but to understand how code works and how to read code. There are plenty of resources online and videos on learning and picking up these skills.

3. Cultivate Soft Skills

While technical skills are important, being a 21st century human also requires cultivating soft skills such as communication, collaboration, and problem-solving. These skills are essential for working effectively in a team, managing conflicts, and adapting to change. Some ways to develop these skills include:

  • Volunteering or participating in community activities
  • Joining a club or organization related to your interests
  • Taking courses or workshops on communication and leadership
  • Build on you Quotients (Using the best of the Q Continuum)

4. Stay Current with Industry Trends

To be successful in the 21st century, it’s important to stay current with industry trends and developments. This means keeping up with news and developments in your field, attending conferences and networking events, and staying connected with colleagues and industry experts. Some ways to stay informed include:

5. Be Adaptable and Resilient

Finally, being a 21st century human means being adaptable and resilient in the face of change. This means being willing to learn new skills, take on new challenges, and embrace new technologies and tools. It also means being able to bounce back from setbacks and failures, and to persevere in the face of obstacles.

Becoming a 21st century human isn’t something that happens overnight, it takes time to develop yourself and change your mindset, but through taking regular steps you can change your habits to be a 21st century human.

Whether you’re just starting out in your career or looking to make a change, cultivating these skills and qualities can help you navigate the ever-changing landscape of the 21st century. (2020 – The Age of Ambiguity)

Further Reading

Digital Mindset Tools – Second Brain

Having the Right Digital Mindset

Knowledge Fit for 2020

How you can begin to Code

Using the best of the Q Continuum

Personal Knowledge Management System – Revised for 2023

Thinking of Blogging?

2020 – The Age of Ambiguity

The Intersection of Technology and Ethics

07 Tuesday Mar 2023

Posted by in 21st Century Human, Digital, Security

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Technology has always brought ethical dilemmas throughout the ages from the rise of machinery in cotton mills to facial recognition today. With the rise of technology in modern society, this has also led to the increase of various ethical dilemmas, challenging us to navigate the intersection of technology and ethics.

Our ability to report and consume information has made a lot of these dilemmas more visible to everyone and allowed society to debate them as these can have significant implications on individuals, society, and the environment. As technology evolves it is important to consider the ethical implications and ensure they align with human values and benefits humanity.

Here are some of the ethical considerations of technology to consider;

Privacy: The collection, storage, and use of personal data are among the most significant ethical concerns in technology. Laws such as GDPR exist to help with this and help guide on what is and is not acceptable/possible.

Bias: The development and use of technology can perpetuate biases, such as gender or racial bias, and lead to discrimination. AI is a good example of this it is essential to ensure that algorithms and technologies are developed and tested to prevent biases and align with ethical principles. Also to ensure fairness in the algorithms decision’s

Impact on Jobs: Will AI take peoples jobs? This is a topic I have blogged about before “I lost my job to a robot“. The increasing use of artificial intelligence and automation raises questions about the impact on jobs and the workforce.

Cybersecurity: The more we store and use technology the more we can be vulnerable to cyber-attacks and data breaches, posing risks to individuals’ privacy and security. Good cybersecurity and good end user practices are key to the success of any technology.

Environmental impact: The production and disposal of technology can have significant environmental impacts, including pollution and waste. It’s crucial to prioritize sustainable practices, such as using eco-friendly materials and implementing recycling programs.

Autonomy: Technology can be used to monitor and control individuals, raising concerns about autonomy and individual rights. the news on facial recognition cameras at a location in London showed the impact this can have.

Access and Inequality: Technology can perpetuate existing social and economic inequalities by limiting access to technology and excluding marginalised groups. The digital divide between those that can readily access and those that can’t is a big problem for society today.

As technology develops it is important that we look to continually monitor the impacts and make adjustments to ensure that it aligns with ethical principles. Ultimately, technology is best placed to improve the human experience while considering the impact on society, the environment, and future generations.

Data, Data Everywhere: The Rise of Datafication

23 Thursday Feb 2023

Posted by in 21st Century Human, Data, Data Science, Productivity

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From prehistoric time painting the number of mammoth killed of food, to the first weather forecast recorded and in present times the number of followers and posts someone has made, humanity is obsessed with data, and its growing exponentially. At the same time we seem to be afraid of pressing delete and put our minds to working out new ways to record, analyse and report on things.

Through data we are able to find new ways of doing things, fixing things and developing new things across multiple fields and disciplines. Datafication is a term that was introduced in 2013 and covers how we are turning data in to useful things today.

Our smartphones, fitness trackers, and even our cars are collecting data about us and the world around us.

In the age of information, data is everywhere. From the time we wake up in the morning to the moment we fall asleep at night, we are surrounded by data.

What is Datafication?

Datafication is a technological trend turning many aspects of our life into data which is subsequently transferred into information realised as a new form of value.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datafication

Datafication is the process of turning everything into data. It involves collecting, storing, analysing, and using data to make decisions and predictions. Datafication has become increasingly popular in recent years due to the rapid advancement of technology and the rise of big data. With the advent of the internet and the proliferation of connected devices, we are generating more data than ever before.

The amount of data generated each day varies and is difficult to precisely measure since it depends on multiple factors such as the sources of data and the definition of what constitutes “data.” However, it’s estimated that around 2.5 quintillion bytes of data are created each day.

This number is constantly increasing as more devices and systems become connected to the internet and generate data, and as technology advances to enable the creation of more data types, such as videos, images, and sensor data. Additionally, with the rise of machine learning and artificial intelligence, there is an increasing need for vast amounts of data to train these algorithms, further driving the growth of data creation

Why is Datafication Important?

Datafication has become an important aspect of modern society because it has the potential to improve the way we live, work, and play. By analysing data, using tools, methods and AI we can gain insights into everything from consumer behavior to traffic patterns to the spread of diseases. This information can be used to make better decisions, optimise processes, and solve problems.

One area where datafication has had a significant impact is healthcare. With the help of wearable devices and electronic health records, healthcare providers can collect and analyse data to monitor patient health and identify potential health risks. This has the potential to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.

Datafication has also had a significant impact on business. By collecting and analysing data on customer behavior, businesses can gain insights into what their customers want and need. This information can be used to improve products and services, optimise pricing strategies, and target marketing efforts.

The Risks of Datafication

While datafication has many benefits, it also comes with risks. One of the biggest risks is the potential for data breaches and privacy violations. As more and more data is collected and stored, the risk of a data breach increases. This can result in the theft of personal information, financial data, and other sensitive information.

Another risk of datafication is the potential for bias. When data is collected and analysed, it is important to ensure that the data is representative and unbiased. If the data is biased, it can lead to inaccurate conclusions and decisions.

The Future of Datafication

Datafication has given the opportunities for new roles in data analysis to become commonplace and help drive businesses through new ways of looking at data.

Conclusion

Datafication is a powerful tool that has the potential to improve the way we live, work, and play. As data continues to play an increasingly important role in our lives, it is important to ensure that we use it responsibly and ethically.