Matching technology with humanitarian goals

The benefits of technology are pervasive. We are flooded with the fruits of technological progress ― the iPad, iPod, electronic gadgets like smartphones, smart TVs, etc. The spread of technical progress is like a double-edged sword, creating winners and losers. The Schumpeterian perspective on technological progress under capitalism is well discussed in economics where it endangers creative destruction.

Recently, in a book by Evgeny Morozov named “To Save Everything, Click Here: The Folly of Technological Solutionism,” another dark side of the technological solution is portrayed. Is technology the perfect instrument for ameliorating complex socioeconomic problems? Morozov’s thesis is that by sheer data mining and obsession with quantitative solutions to handle complex social situations, it ignores the judgmental aspect. To put it in perspective, the current fetishism about “smart” technology and its usages, technology does something which generates socially suboptimal results. According to him, it is devoid of efficiency and wisdom.

In a book, Jaron Lanier has argued that technology has caused some creative professions to shrink and, by use of free services via social networks, some people are sometimes more engaged in unproductive activities. Another problem is cyber warfare and cyber security.

Given the technological realities and the myriads of problems faced by the global population at this juncture, it is ripe to think about using technology properly for harnessing the benefits. Otherwise, using it narrowly for personal gratification or self-fulfillment is bound to lose ground. We should not use technology as a distancing and dehumanizing factor.

Can we learn something? When the whole world is facing a systemic crisis and feeling the ripples of the economic crisis and climate-change crisis, can a solution be achieved via wiser application of technology? The answer is: yes. Technological innovation could foster humanitarian enterprises as it does in other entrepreneurial activities. How?

Recently, a report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Africa has brought into the limelight such efforts for “humanitarian work.” Technological innovations could be used for serving people in times of need, for example, in times of cyclones, disaster, flooding, water shortages, microfinance, etc.

According to Allegra Baiocchi, the head of OCHA, “humanitarians (who) take risks, collaborate, innovate, do better over-the-horizon analysis and anticipation” could enable new participants from diverse fields such as climate scientists, chaos scientists and graphic designers to join the fray.

As the global population of 7 billion is expanding at an annualized rate of 1.1 percent per year, the increasing pressure on land and other natural resources are a major concern among policymakers. This could aggravate problems with multidimensional impacts such as worsening food insecurity, water shortage, energy crisis, climate-change related disasters hitting areas with infrastructural deficiencies, job crisis, tsunami effects, handling biological-chemical-nuclear contamination, fuel crisis, etc.

As Malthus and population biologist Paul Ehrlich argued against the population explosion and its adverse effects on resources resulting in hunger and starvation, technological solutions and social development proved them wrong on several grounds, if not all.

Thus, technological progress is a crucial feature in this modern age and its benefits could be realized with proper utilization. Examples of such new vistas are: pre-natural disaster early warning SMS; distance online education for hapless kids; educational games for improving cognitive ability; mobile voice technology for information on vulnerability or food insecurity; telemedicine networks via smartphones or computers; real-time crisis monitoring and feedback via smartphones.

Therefore, to contend with the emerging crisis, a governmental plan should be clear so that each member of society is aware of utilizing the boons of technology for humanitarian purposes, rather than pursuing it for narrow-ed or entertainment purposes such as games and gadgets.

It is pertinent to initiate such awareness among the fledgling kids so that they can learn the knowledge underlying technology. One glaring example is “gamification” of education without persuasive academic reasoning to comprehend materials. The spread of e-education ― where academies such as Khan Academy, Edtech and Amplify are enabling learners to make the best use of Internet resources for problem solving ― could raise productivity.

In other words, technology is a means to an end, and that should be promoted from early education programs so that the budding kids don’t succumb to the ill effects of proliferation of technological wizardry.

Incidences of Korean kids dying after indulging in competition in video or mobile games, or sporadic attempts hinder development and mental health. If the young generations are taught from the beginning about social problems as responsible global citizens, their humanitarian core could be turned on. Only then would they avoid turning into a machine or robot subservient to the technological behemoth. With the nous to master knowledge and channel the power of technology for a humanitarian purpose, the creative potential could be culled to the best practice.

After all, technology originates from mankind, for mankind, and with the civilization. Human ingenuity is more complex than technology itself, and hence, it is imperative to instill a people-centric view of “smart” technologies. For this we need empathy, enlightenment and mutual self-interest.

By Gouranga Gopal Das

Gouranga Gopal Das is a professor of economics at Hanyang University. He can be reached at dasgouranga@yahoo.com. ― Ed.