In the last few decades, we have witnessed exponential technological growth and change. However, as we enter the second half of the metaphorical chessboard, it remains unclear how that technology will reshape our economy, political systems, and collective future. One thing is clear: in the hands of existing institutions—firms, schools, non-profits, civic institutions and governments—this awesome technology will achieve only a fraction of its potential. More
Tag Index / Showing 1 - 10 of 26 results for “technology”
Techonomy 2010-12: Highlights
A who's who of Techonomy participants join Techonomy founder David Kirkpatrick in a series of highlights from our 2010-12 conferences that address the growing impact of technology on business and society and why, increasingly, every company is a technology company. More
Is Telecommuting Overrated?
The futurist Alvin Toffler predicted the rise of telecommuting, calling the home office an "electronic cottage" that could enhance family and community cohesion. A growing segment of today's workforce telecommutes—in a variety of ways and with varying frequency. But, as reported by Slate's Evgeny Morozov, research indicates that the outcomes of tech-enabled remote work arrangements are decidedly mixed. A Deloitte report about a flexible work pilot program at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management concluded that both employees and their managers had a hard time evaluating performance, and that the quality of work suffered. And while the insurance giant Aetna allows 47 percent of its employees to work from home, those workers tend to be heavier, spurring the company to hire an online personal trainer. More
Why Gangnam Style Marks a Triumph of South Korean Tech
When the sleek, sexy, preposterous world of PSY's “Gangnam Style” surged to become the number one video on YouTube, it offered us a glimpse of the new South Korea: an engineering powerhouse that rivals the West, a competitive economy that drives innovation, and an increasingly successful exporter of cultural memes. More
Seeing the Business Opportunity in Malnutrition
Leave it to a technology innovators’ conference to frame the relief of global malnutrition as a business opportunity. Other sessions at this week’s Techonomy meeting in Tucson described how technology is transforming developing communities and how mobile devices are already ubiquitous in Africa. But Steve Collins, an MD from Ireland devoted to improving nutrition in Africa, says think of it this way: People unaffected by irreversible brain damage—often the effect of malnutrition in infancy—are more likely consumers of technology. More
Business Digital Techonomy Tucson
The Limits of the Virtual: Why Stores and Conferences Won’t Go Away
Last week we attended the Singularity Summit. During this two day celebration of all things technologically progressive, we enjoyed the summit’s signature cocktail of research, futurism, and metaphysics. Speakers speculated on topics ranging from virtual realities, cybernetics, and what post-carbon life would be like for mankind. As we listened, we were struck that even for this group of ardent technology enthusiasts, there was an excitement and energy that came from gathering in a single room and meeting face to face. More
Agile London Startups Give Banks a Run for Their Money
Refugees from London's financial sector are flocking to the the city's burgeoning startup scene, launching lean, Web-based companies that capitalize on public mistrust of banking institutions, and use tech tools to trim costs and improve customer service. More
The Side Effects of Screen-Addiction
Is technology ruining our teenagers? Today’s teens are constantly staring at screens of smartphones, iPods, tablets, computers and TVs. And the consequences are problematic, psychologist Dr. Aric Sigman has found. Teens’ addiction to gadgets is wrecking their attention spans, triggering depression, and creating a sedentary lifestyle that is linked to heart disease, strokes and diabetes. Not to mention contributing to global warming, SmartPlanet reports. Obviously technology is doing the world a lot of good—but how do we harness tech without turning our children into mush? More
