tech 55+ 20 feb15
TRANSCRIPT
About me
Architect, Civil & Structural Engineer PhD Artificial Intelligence, Swinburne Uni Research Scientist, CSIRO Data Scientist, Oracle Corp Co-Founder, iSelect Mentor & Business Advisor
The Nature of Technology
Defining Technology Technology is …
“… anything that doesn’t work yet.” Danny Hillis, The Pattern on the Stone: The Simple Ideas that Make Computers Work, 1998
“… anything invented after you were born.” Alan Kay at Hong Kong press conference, late 1980s
“… anything useful invented by a mind.” Kevin Kelly, What Technology Wants, 2010
“… a programming of phenomena to our purposes.” W.Brian Arthur, The Nature of Technology, 2009
The Evolution of Technology
Humans, as the first technology capable intelligence started a new technology based evolutionary process that is an extension of our own biological evolution.
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The way a technology changes over time fits a pattern similar to the evolution of an organic species:
From simple to complex, from general to specific, from uniformity to diversity, from individualism to mutualisim, from energy waste to efficiency and from slow change to greater evolvability.
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*K.Kelly uses the term ’Technium’ to mean a whole system of technology.
A Thousand Years of Helmet Evolution, Bashford Dean
The Seventh Kingdom As biological organisms evolved to more complex, society based entities the level of information processing increased. The invention of sex lead to faster re-ordering of biological information.
With language humans were able to adapt and transmit learning faster than genes. The invention of writing and mathematics structured the learning even more. The technium takes off …
The Human – Technology Relationship
Technology Adoption accelerating
Costs declining/Capability increasing exponentially
Radio Shack brochure, 1981
Historical Adoption Rates of Technology
Technology ‘have’ and ‘have nots’? Technology adoption is fast but not instantaneous or even. However, research shows that in many instances technology adoption is a case of ‘have’ and ‘have later’.
As we shall see several traits determine adoption, of which age is but one …
Human Age & Technology
Population Ageing
An Aging Australia: Preparing for the Future, Productivity Commission Research Paper, Nov. 2013
Impact of Aging
A Market to be catered for …
Tech Adoption by Older Gen “The young are ‘good’ with technology and the old are reticent, late adopters and slow learners.” *
*The 50 Plus Market: Why the Future is Age-neutral when it Comes to Marketing, Dick Stroud, 2007
“That is a myth and a stereotype!” *
How society sees the older gen
Who they really are
Info Gadget Adoption by Age & Time
Adoption by Income, Age & Educ
They are a really diverse group
¨ Young Seniors: in denial, lifestyle not consistent with biological age.
¨ Conscious Hedonists: uncomplicated, pragmatic
¨ Elderly Seniors: physically & mentally restricted.
New Seniors: 50-59 yrs Young Seniors: 60-69 yrs Seniors: 70-79 yrs Elderly: 80+ yrs
The ‘average’ consumer is changing
The consumer base is becoming increasingly different from the theoretical “average user” used in design of products. In fact, in current product design, an increasingly bigger proportion of the potential customer base is being ignored as the demographic curve bulges upward. However their needs grow as their capabilities diminish. The challenge to innovators and to businesses is that everyone, with all their differences, are potential users/consumers and desire to use the same products and services as everyone else.
Material translated & adapted from “Design Pour Tous – comment s’y prendre. Preconisations pour une conception pour le plus gran nombre”, Collectif Designers+, 2005
Design for Everyone Aging is not a disability. It’s part of a normal life cycle that we will all experience. Our products should be designed to cater for the physical, sensory & cognitive effects of age.
7 Principles of Universal Design “The design of products & environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation, specialized design” * (or training).
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Conclusion Technology is pervasive & unrelenting. It is up to us to use it wisely to increase the quality of everyone’s lives in a sustainable manner. Thank you! [email protected] David Urpani