Human technology for knowledge workers – please, keep it simple!
Office work without technological tools is unimaginable today. Cell phones, laptops, and the Internet have completely changed the way we work. Without a doubt, the interesting question is: where do we go from here? What will the future bring – and are we facing the danger that technology is becoming too complex?It’s classic sci-fi: technology turns against humans. Whether in the form of a spacecraft computer that can no longer be controlled, an android that suddenly begins to think on its own, or another man-made form of intelligence that no longer adheres to the rules created by mankind. The sorcerer’s apprentice – so it seems – works tirelessly on something that he eventually can no longer control.
Ok, I admit, we should remain at least somewhat realistic. Reality in the workplace is much less dramatic. But, we have all had the slightly irrational feeling that technology sometimes is working against us: A computer program does not respond; the wireless keyboard only accepts commands when it wants to; naturally the PC won’t shut down either; the cell phone that you let ring in anger does not display the missed call; and as long as the IT support is unavailable, the world as we know it stops.
Making technology human
Luckily, those are exceptional cases - even if they remain forever etched in our memory. Even the sceptics have to admit that modern technology functions rather smoothly most of the time. But one piece of criticism remains: it is often too complicated. Something is not right if you need days of training to get a basic grasp of how to run the lights in the lecture hall. In general, this will serve to entrench only one thing in your memory: the more complicated an application, the less useful it generally is in terms of its productivity. And so the saying goes, that everyday use is the best test of every new method, idea or device.
Technological advances in recent decades have been enormous, no doubt about it. For that reason, emphasis today is not on creating "more" technology, but rather on designing applications to be "more human". The best example is the development of exciting and intuitive user interfaces. It’s about "functional simplicity with structural complexity – easy to use, but hard to understand", as formulated by Norbert Bolz of the Technical University of Berlin. Although "understanding" is established among the technical experts, the user wants usability, plain and simple.
Technology all around
Hard to understand and ubiquitous, that they are undoubtedly: the hundreds of technological features that not only hide in communication technologies but also in our everyday life. Have you ever poked your head under the hood or the dashboard of a modern automobile? Easy to operate and actually practical? Not always. In recent years, Mercedes overdid it with hundreds of technological features. Even the gear shift was reconstructed into knobs because the turning motion was simply "more human".
Despite such efforts to make technology (again) user-friendly, we need to be conscious of the fact that most technology is completely invisible to us. Kevin Kelly, cofounder of Wired magazine and thought leader of the technology and Internet scene, sees this trend continuing. He even ponders a "one machine" – there is nothing anymore that is not in the Internet. With it, you will soon not only be able to search for websites or documents, but also for things. Objects will be linkable using chips. Utopia? Not quite! Most computer chips are already being used outside computers.
The paperless office
Interestingly, a few ideas remain on-track. Once talked up by visionaries, it is clear today that the paperless office isn’t coming. But instead, there will be a revolution in paper applications; I am talking about e-paper. E-paper is paper that you can use like a pliable monitor. The advantages over a normal monitor: the material is thinner, lighter and uses considerably less electricity since it is only needed to change the display. That means that the display remains active even when the power supply is interrupted. At the same time, e-paper has many characteristics that mimic normal paper: reading texts is easier on e-paper because pixels are not divided into sub-pixels the way they are in conventional displays.
E-Paper is primarily being used in e-Readers and is replacing some cell phone LCD displays. But it could also be used in electronic signage and billboards. Maybe we’ll even see entire office walls wallpapered in e-paper and finally arrive at virtual operations. Even its use as an ultra-light and foldable mobile monitor is conceivable. There are countless other application ideas already.
Tangible presentations
The transfer of knowledge functions especially well when content is made tangible. With all due respect to PowerPoint, many presentations are simply dead boring. Because there is always the presenter who reads his painstakingly prepared presentation point by point. What you’d really like is to fall asleep unnoticed – or get the content presented to you in a more interesting way. And that’s what it’s all about today: How can I convey content in an exciting way, so that it actually reaches my audience?
Naturally, excellent presenting skills help, but technological tools can help to give your story a lasting impression. Researchers at the University of California are leading the way: complex subjects are presented in a completely new way in large presentation rooms. Even mathematical equations can be presented in a three-dimensional world. In this way, complexity is made simple and knowledge becomes tangible.
The circle of modern work environments is closing, where the interplay of communication, interaction, mobility and creativity increasingly determines economic success. Supported by a technology that is simple to use, and efficiently configured, but above all widely impacts and fosters knowledge work. To sum up: Let the future arrive! – We’ve got everything under control.
Don’t we?
Anna Voltren
