Page 15 - The EDIT | Q3 2017

EDITorial
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nology and us
w from the authors
think that all types of technology are already fantastic.
Elda: When you read Merge,
you get an overwhelming
feeling of anxiety combined
with excitement for what’s yet
to come. If you have children,
and I do, you are utterly aware
of that the world they will live in
will be nothing like ours today —
unimaginable in so many areas
in absolute comparison. And with
that evolution will come some
incredible benefits — and equally
some obstacles as well. Most
might feel the tech innovations
are the best part — for me, it was
realizing that while a machine
may take over and become part
of every visible and invisible element of our lives, the value of humanity will be elevated. What makes us human will become more precious, meaningful, and in turn, further appreciating who and what we are.
Malcolm: As a very ‘personal’ take-away from the book, I relished in seeing the complete picture from the creation of the first computer to the ‘merge’
as part of my family life time. My father was a computer programmer for IBM 50 years ago, so
to be projecting forward to a time in the ‘not too distant future’, in a world that my children will grow up in, was very rewarding.
What advice would you give to PHDers to prepare ourselves and our clients for the big changes ahead?
Wayne: Technology never sleeps. If you don’t stay on top of all the developments in tech, you might
lose relevance a lot quicker than you think. Also, don’t be scared. Humans have always advanced forward as this is a key survival mechanism. Embrace progress.
Malcolm: My advice would be the same as it has been with the introduction of any new piece
of technology that offers the promise of radically shaking up our industry: remain focussed on objectives and solving genuine business problems and slot new technologies as enablers in to these, as opposed to starting with the technologies and building a
strategy around them. Tech can be utilised in remarkable ways, but the
technology itself isn’t the objective.
Holger: Keep calm and let it happen! We just need to bring our core values to life... openness, curiosity and courage. There’s nothing more needed.
Elda: Learn and educate yourself constantly on what is yet to come. It may seem far away in the future, but being conscious and knowledgeable will help elevate the work we do today — and in an exciting way. We are in a transition period with an opportunity to be contributors to the change rather than passively standing at the receiving end. There is plenty that we can start doing today to prepare and adjust, but at the very least, we should begin rethinking how our roles in this industry will change in the future and the new skills we will need to fulfil that shift.
Phil: Read. Tell. Learn. Test. Repeat. Without practice, we cannot be perfect.
THE EDIT ISSUE 7 | Q3 2017
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