Humanists are taking over Silicon Valley and Technocrats can only cry

in #technology7 years ago

"Taking the Humanistic approach to building technology"

Mark Zuckerberg studied Psychology at Harvard (and was only minoring in Computer Science). He then went on to build the biggest social network to date.

The late Steve Jobs was a humanist in disguise leading a technology company that put human need in front. Even though competitors have arisen, iPhone still is closest in terms of User Interface and its immediacy of response. Its UI is validated by children who learn how to operate it without a need for manual everyday.

Acquisition of WhatsApp by Facebook elevated the tiny company into valuation on par with Sony — once a technology giant that since lost its touch. Whatsapp took existing, even old technology (J2ME app they built is leveraging a 15-year old technology that’s on two billion mobile devices around the world), and used it to fill a basic need of communication between two human beings.

We’re seeing a tectonic shift in how technology is being applied and who wins big in return. The companies that put the needs of a human being front and center win. They don’t necessarily have to invent ground-breaking technology. Applying existing technology but building better user interfaces for humans.

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