3 Questions. 3 Hints. 3 Answers. Every Tuesday.
1. Who should you consider a friend, not foe, in the workplace?
Hint:
Answer: these individual parts, when put together may actually save your job, not eliminate it. Meet the robot. According to a recent article, “[p]roductivity growth through automation is actually the best way to grow our economy, and a competitive, growing economy is our best hope to provide new jobs and opportunity to more people.” Among other things, the article cites unremarkable productivity as a sign that automated systems are not taking over the workplace as some might have you believe. The complementary nature of robots in the workplace should be viewed as an asset – certainly remaining globally competitive requires their engagement. Read more here.
2. What concept is making well-being more accessible for all?
Hint:
Answer: say the word “heel” and you might be tempted to think of a new pair of shoes. A new start-up, however, isn’t thinking “heel” rather its focus is on “heal.” Via smartphone app, an established doctor is summoned to your doorstep and arrives 20 to 60 minutes later. That is less time than most of us spend getting to our doctor and sitting in a waiting room. For basic services, the flat fee, $99, along with the 8a to 8p 7-day per week availability, makes this seem like a very good deal indeed. Real-life and virtual house-calls are proliferating the healthcare market though they do face legal restrictions in some states. Read the details here.
3. What technology could be pushing society further into a narcissistic existence?
Hint:
Answer: it’s not just the selfie sticks and profile pics. Ethicists and others are concerned that the age of self-monitoring is producing a bunch of self-obsessed folks. Wearable monitoring devices offer great benefits to those suffering from particular ailments and individuals focusing on healthier lifestyles. In addition, they are being considered as relevant to future health, social and environmental diagnostics. Nonetheless, they are inevitably subject to unnecessary “abuse” by some self-quantifiers. The devices also raise privacy concerns given that their stored data is subject to fall into anyone’s hands. Read the story here.