“Design for a Better World: Meaningful, Sustainable, Humanity Centered” with Professor Don Norman

Design For A Better World reviewed at Bridging the Gaps

Has human behaviour pushed our world to the edge, especially the mistaken belief that the earth’s resources are infinite? And can a shift in human behaviour rescue us? The challenges we face, from collapsing social structures to the climate crisis, have been centuries in the making. It is immensely critical that we take immediate and decisive actions; we must transform ourselves to improve our circumstances. In his new book “Design for a Better World: Meaningful, Sustainable, Humanity Centered” Don Norman offers an insightful analysis of our missteps and provides a clear remedy for making things better. The book suggests that the pivotal factor for change lies in human behaviour. The book explores this through three main themes: meaning, sustainability, and humanity-centeredness. In this episode of Bridging the Gaps, I speak with professor Don Norman. We dig deep on these three themes and explore the ideas that a meaningful quality of life, rather than mere monetary gain, restructuring our lifestyles to enhance environmental protection, and adopting an inclusive approach that encompasses all of humanity, can empower us to address the challenges confronting us.

Don Norman is Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Cognitive Science and Psychology and founding director of the Design Lab at the University of California, San Diego. Business Week has named Norman one of the world’s most influential designers. He was an Apple Vice President, has been an advisor and board member for numerous companies, and has three honorary degrees. His numerous books have been translated into over 20 languages including “The Design of Everyday Things” and “Living with Complexity”.

We start off by examining the pervasive artificiality surrounding us. Misplaced and disjointed elements, such as non-native plants, high density concrete structures and other artefacts, contribute to environments saturated with artificial constructs. Furthermore, we delve into how our metrics of success are also influenced by this artificiality. We measure our success by using metrics that don’t encompass what really matters. This artificiality has consequently led to an unsustainable sociotechnical system. We touch upon the ramifications of distorted capitalism before delving deeply into the central themes of the book: meaning, sustainability, and humanity-centeredness. Exploring the human quest for significance, we discuss why a sense of meaning is essential for every aspect of our existence. Addressing sustainability, we discuss how to rectify the harm inflicted upon the ecosystem. Finally, we discuss a humanity-centered approach to crafting artefacts and lifestyles that offers a pathway to rectify our current predicament. This discussion has been both enlightening and invigorating.

Complement this discussion with “Philosophy of Technology” with Professor Peter-Paul Verbeek.
And then listen to “The Good-Enough Life” with Dr Avram Alpert.

By |March 6th, 2024|Future, Sustainability, Technology|
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“The Smartness Mandate” with Professor Orit Halpern

Smartness Mandate on Bridging the Gaps podcast

Smartness has permeated our lives in the form of smartphones, smart cars, smart homes, and smart cities. It has become a mandate, a pervasive force that governs politics, economics, and the environment. As our world faces increasingly complex challenges, the drive for ubiquitous computing raises important questions. What exactly is this ‘smartness mandate’? How did it emerge, and what does it reveal about our evolving understanding and management of reality? How did we come to view the planet and its inhabitants primarily as instruments for data collection?

In the book ‘The Smartness Mandate,’ co-authored by Professor Orit Halpern, the notion of ‘smartness’ is presented as more than just a technology, it is presented as an epistemology — a way of knowing. In this episode of Bridging the Gaps, I speak with Professor Orit Halpern, where we delve into the concept of smartness. We explore its historical roots and its cultural implications, particularly its emphasis on data-driven technologies and decision-making processes across domains such as urban planning, healthcare, and education.

Orit Halpern is Lighthouse Professor and Chair of Digital Cultures and Societal Change at Technische Universität Dresden. She completed her Ph.D. at Harvard. She has held numerous visiting scholar positions including at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science in Berlin, IKKM Weimar, and at Duke University. At present she is working on two projects. The first project is about the history of automation, intelligence, and freedom; and the second project examines extreme infrastructures and the history of experimentation at planetary scales in design, science, and engineering.

Our conversation begins by discussing the idea of “smartness” as presented in the book. To understand it better, we look at a few examples. The book suggests that the smartness paradigm relies a lot on collecting data, analysing it, as well as monitoring people through surveillance. We talk about the possible risks and consequences of this data-focused approach for personal privacy and individual rights. Next, we talk about how the smartness idea connects with the concept of resilience. We also touch on the fact, as presented in the book, that the smartness paradigm often reinforces existing power structures and inequalities. We explore the biases and ethical concerns that may arise with the use of these technologies. Furthermore, we explore the possibility of using the smartness approach to promote fairness and equality. We talk about how it could be applied to create a more just society. We discuss the significance of multidisciplinarity, and the role of higher education institutions and educators to create an enabling environment for an informed discourse to address these questions. Professor Orit Halpren emphasises the importance of exploring these questions and addressing relevant concerns to make sure we create the kind of world we truly want for ourselves.

Complement this discussion with Cloud Empires: Governing State-like Digital Platforms and Regaining Control with Professor Vili Lehdonvirta and the listen to Reclaiming Human Intelligence and “How to Stay Smart in a Smart World” with Prof. Gerd Gigerenzer

By |June 6th, 2023|Computer Science, Future, Information, Knowledge, Technology|
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“Ending Epidemics: A History of Escape from Contagion” with Richard Conniff

Ending Epidemics on Bridging the Gaps pocast

It is difficult to imagine a not-so-distant past when deadly diseases were a routine part of life. Even more astonishing is the fact that during that time, prevailing medical beliefs attributed these diseases to harmful miasmas, bodily humors, and divine dyspepsia. However, a groundbreaking revelation occurred with the discovery of the world of microorganisms, which led to the understanding that these tiny organisms might be responsible for transmitting and spreading diseases. These pivotal discoveries and understandings paved the way for numerous measures and techniques to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases.

The history of epidemics and humanity’s progress in combating these diseases is full of captivating stories. In his new book, “Ending Epidemics: A History of Escape from Contagion,” prolific author Richard Conniff outlines how our comprehension and prevention of some of the most devastating infectious diseases have advanced, consequently doubling the average life expectancy. In this episode of Bridging the Gaps, I speak with Richard Conniff, delving into moments of inspiration and innovation, decades marked by unwavering determination, and periods of profound suffering that have spurred individuals, institutions, and governments to take action in the pursuit of public health.

Richard Conniff is a prolific author of several non-fiction books and many articles for magazines such as National Geographic, Smithsonian, and Time. He is a contributing opinion writer for the New York Times, and a former commentator on NPR’s “All Things Considered”. He has won the National Magazine Award. He has also written and presented nature programmes for National Geographic television, the Discovery channel and the BBC.

Our conversation begins with an exploration of how communities in old days grappled with epidemics, given their limited understanding of the causes behind such widespread outbreaks. We delve into the intricate ways in which communities tried to comprehend and interpret illnesses before the pivotal discoveries of microorganisms and germs. An engaging segment follows, chronicling the efforts of early pioneers who harnessed the power of microscopes to identify microorganisms believed to be responsible for various diseases.

One captivating narrative we explore revolves around the remarkable utilization of cowpox to foster immunity against smallpox—an extraordinary breakthrough in the history of medicine. However, we also address the resistance encountered by these novel ideas and concepts. We then delve into the emergence of the concept of immunity, the discovery of microorganisms, and the subsequent development of vaccines and antibiotics. Additionally, we discuss the profound realization that improved sanitary conditions are indispensable for safeguarding public health.

Naturally, our conversation turns towards the recent Covid-19 epidemic, examining humanity’s response to this global crisis. Richard offers a significant insight that despite our enhanced capabilities in dealing with epidemics, these formidable diseases persist and may pose future threats if we fail to remain vigilant to the dangers they present.

Complement this discussion with Cloud Empires: Governing State-like Digital Platforms and Regaining Control with Professor Vili Lehdonvirta and then listen to “Kendall Square and the Making of a Global Innovation Hub” with Robert Buderi

By |May 28th, 2023|Biology, Future, History, Podcasts, Research|
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