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7 December, 09:37 PM

What is needed? What is essential? That is the question that as designers, innovators, technologists, and entrepreneurs, I believe we are most responsible for answering.

Recently I’ve been wresting with this idea that “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should”. In Product Development, I like to think that we’re always trying to make it simpler, without taking away from the experience … or are we?

When I look at technology today, it seems like we rampantly subscribe to the idea that “if you build it, they will come”. Today I read that Facebook has over 350 million users. So I guess in this case, Mark built it, and the people came. But the real question is “do they need it”?

One thing that I find fascinating about technology, is the speed of its evolution and the rapid rate at which it allows us to innovate and iterate. We can sketch an idea on a napkin over drinks after work, and then in 48 hours have a live prototype and get feedback from people. But, with this new found freedom of development, comes a certain accountability for the creators.

Our culture has a serious affinity to what could be called an “urge for excess”. When you survey all the problems that we are facing today, it really comes down to our inability as a society, to exude some self control, restraint, and focus in our lives. We buy things that we don’t need, with money that we don’t have, and then wonder why we are in a financial crisis. We eat things that have little nutritional value, and then wonder why 72% of Americans are obese or overweight. We live in huge houses in the suburbs, commute to work for hours in over-sized vehicles, and then try to understand the cause of our many environmental and climate issues. Yet, at the root of all these issues, is our overindulgence and inability to know what’s even needed anymore because we’ve lost touch with what’s really essential to our lives.

This idea of an “urge for excess” is playing out dramatically in the realm of technology. Experts predict that soon, the information on the Internet will double every 72 hours. According to a recent report by Nielsen, the average person in the US spends 68 hours online each month (that works out to 34 full days online each year). The interesting point the study uncovered is that in a month, an average person visits 2,700 websites, yet only spends 57 seconds at each site. What does this say? People are doing a whole lot of nothing. This is what we do for 34 of our 365 days each year. Are you concerned yet?

So what is needed? What is essential? That is the question that as designers, innovators, technologists, and entrepreneurs, I believe we are most responsible for answering. To begin to answer this, we need to take time to become students of experience and discover the art of listening, observing, and imagining again. We need to slow down our processes of just “doing” and replace that with the art of asking “why”.

In 2010, I challenge you, and myself, to bring to life new ideas, not because we can, not because it would be fun to build, not because we talked someone into giving us money for it, but because it would enhance the life of whomever interacts with it and bring meaning value to them.

Comment

Well stated. As a student of history I’ve always wondered what people from the 1800’s (or even 50 years ago) would think about our culture today. I can’t believe how many times I hear people say they are bored but when you take a second to think about how much is available to us through the internet and other modern technology it seems absurd that anybody could ever be bored. Focus and restraint are very rare commodities indeed. Where will we be 10 years from now if this trend continues?

Sam - 4 January, 03:35 PM
Great piece!

Information overwhelm is something no other generation has ever had to grapple with and the very source of that information – technology – shouid be the solution as well. Smarter apps that help us be more focused, productive and balanced.

Thanks, Sarah!

Patrick Bowl - 5 January, 07:53 AM
I have been challenged, well thought and well written. i am not a designer but i can identify with what you are saying.

Prem - 6 January, 09:49 AM
Hi Sam. Even the changes that have happened in the last 10 years. What was life like without an iPhone, Facebook, Twitter. From what I remember, it wasn’t all that bad :) Sure, we had to probably work a little harder to find stuff and maintain our relationships. But I’m curious about what happens to our ability to be creative, think for ourselves, and to be human.

Sarah - 23 January, 11:39 AM
Thanks Patrick. I agree – its information overload and no other generation has faced this yet. Also, I don’t think any other generation has faced such rapid change that we experience today. I think that sometimes we do technology for the sake of technology … but technology should be used to solve problems and needs that actual people have.

Sarah - 23 January, 11:42 AM
Hi Prem. Thanks for your feedback. This certainly isn’t limited to technology. In any field – I think we would all benefit if we took a step back and asked “why” it is the way it is. If the answer doesn’t have to do with solving a problem or meeting a real human need, then I think we need to think twice. Architecture would be a great parallel for this discussion!

Sarah - 23 January, 11:44 AM

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