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Matt Goodman designs technology for humanity.
Matt is a User Experience Designer and Software Engineer with more than a decade of industry experience.
Let's do better
As the tech industry continues to invest in algorithms, artificial intelligence, and automation, humanity is being stripped from our products. We pretend that our algorithmic newsfeeds aren't designed just to serve our users more ads, that our artificial intelligence isn't being trained against biased datasets, and that automation is a perfect replacement for human intervention. While each of these tools has its place, we must also accept that removing the human element from so much of the design and execution of our digital products means we end up with less humane outcomes.
As User Experience professionals, we sit in a crucial spot on our product teams and as such, have the unique ability to be a champion for humanity. Our purpose should be to do more than simply deliver delightful experiences. Our intent should be to respect our users as humans and to focus on doing the most good we can for all people: our users, our stakeholders, and the world at large. After all, humanity refers to more than just the human race. It also refers to the 'quality of being humane' and the ability to demonstrate kindness and benevolence.
It's time to admit that the technology industry has lost its humanity. Companies continue to hoard our data only for it to be leaked or sold to third parties. Artificial Intelligence algorithms continue to be trained against biased datasets, perpetuating centuries of discrimination. When we see society first as customers with money to give, rather than humans to help, we strip humanity from the products we create. We can and must do better.
It's time for the next evolution of User Experience. The discipline of User Experience requires us to refocus our attention on the user, but it's application is still too narrow and its potential under-appreciated. User Experience practitioners must become fierce advocates for the concerns of people, not simply users, across every aspect of our service offerings.
It's time to do the hard work of caring about people. Auto-playing videos. Incessant notifications. Infinite scrolling. Data leaks. Harassment. At what point does easy to use become harfmul to use? And when do we hold ourselves accountable for the impacts our products have on society? People deserve better, and they'll soon start demanding it.
It's time to do what's right. Companies already worth hundreds of billions of dollars are competing for the rights to build a ten billion dollar War Cloud. $80 billion has been invested in autonomous cars, which studies say could either reduce energy consumption in transportation by as much as 90%, or increase it by more than 200%. We're solving complex problems, but are we asking the right questions? A renewed emphasis on doing the most good will help us realize the true promise of technology.
It's time for humanity in technology. The reputation of the tech industry is in decline. Externally, we've abused the trust of our users and given up on not being evil. Internally, we've failed to address issues such as harassment, developer crunch, and poor diversity. The current business environment makes it almost impossible to overcome these obstacles. It also demands we do, lest our companies cease to exist.
As User Experience professionals, we sit in a crucial spot on our product teams and as such, have the unique ability to be a champion for humanity. Our purpose should be to do more than simply deliver delightful experiences. Our intent should be to respect our users as humans and to focus on doing the most good we can for all people: our users, our stakeholders, and the world at large. After all, humanity refers to more than just the human race. It also refers to the 'quality of being humane' and the ability to demonstrate kindness and benevolence.
It's time to admit that the technology industry has lost its humanity. Companies continue to hoard our data only for it to be leaked or sold to third parties. Artificial Intelligence algorithms continue to be trained against biased datasets, perpetuating centuries of discrimination. When we see society first as customers with money to give, rather than humans to help, we strip humanity from the products we create. We can and must do better.
It's time for the next evolution of User Experience. The discipline of User Experience requires us to refocus our attention on the user, but it's application is still too narrow and its potential under-appreciated. User Experience practitioners must become fierce advocates for the concerns of people, not simply users, across every aspect of our service offerings.
It's time to do the hard work of caring about people. Auto-playing videos. Incessant notifications. Infinite scrolling. Data leaks. Harassment. At what point does easy to use become harfmul to use? And when do we hold ourselves accountable for the impacts our products have on society? People deserve better, and they'll soon start demanding it.
It's time to do what's right. Companies already worth hundreds of billions of dollars are competing for the rights to build a ten billion dollar War Cloud. $80 billion has been invested in autonomous cars, which studies say could either reduce energy consumption in transportation by as much as 90%, or increase it by more than 200%. We're solving complex problems, but are we asking the right questions? A renewed emphasis on doing the most good will help us realize the true promise of technology.
It's time for humanity in technology. The reputation of the tech industry is in decline. Externally, we've abused the trust of our users and given up on not being evil. Internally, we've failed to address issues such as harassment, developer crunch, and poor diversity. The current business environment makes it almost impossible to overcome these obstacles. It also demands we do, lest our companies cease to exist.