Pushing the tech frontier for good | Blog | Insights

Did you know that over 6000 apps are released every single day? So if you need an app for something and it isn’t available, the chances are it will be tomorrow, next week or next month.

There’s a certain glee with which we approach these ever-expanding tech horizons. We marvel at what’s possible if we add human ingenuity to innovative technologies. That’s because it’s so easy to get caught up in the latest gadgets on the market: TV screens that roll up like a yoga mat when you’re not watching; wireless, well, everything - from headphones to wakeboards to pens.

A pen that connects to your smartphone? That’s a cool gift for the CEO in your life who has everything - a wireless pen which sends a notification to your phone if you leave it behind somewhere. Apart from that, it’s … well, it’s a very nice pen that needs to be charged every couple of days.

Social good, driven by innovation

Amidst the wonder at the new things we create for ourselves, for me there’s often a nagging sense of ‘is that truly the best we can do?’ But tech with good at its core – that’s something that is absolutely worth getting excited about. If humans turn their ingenuity to creating social good through technological innovation, we can do amazing things. In fact, we already are.

• The Gates Foundation is working to make sure that those who need vaccinations get them, in countries where setting up and maintaining immunisation programmes has traditionally been fraught with difficulties. That includes tech to support vaccine registration, tracking and mapping
• Virtual reality therapy is helping stroke patients recover. A study shows that gamified therapy helps patients improve their balance, walking speed and mobility more quickly than only traditional therapies
• In 2017 two students in the US designed gloves that convert American Sign Language into text and spoken English, aiming to break down communication barriers because they believe that ‘communication is a human right’
  
  

What good can you do?

It isn’t difficult to find examples of people who are instigating social good right at the frontier of technology – I could have used any of around 100 examples I’ve stumbled across (and been inspired by) in recent months. They all motivate me to consider how Insights can use technology to revolutionise learning and development. After all, we work with many of the world’s most inspiring and forward-thinking organisations, so it’s only right that we match them at every step. In serving these global customers, we should make learning accessible, engaging, and available, wherever it’s needed, on any device.

Our company purpose is to create a world where people truly understand themselves and others, and are inspired to make a positive difference in everything they do. In the 21^st century, we will only get there by making the best use of technology that we can. The better use we make of technology, the more people we reach, the more positive difference we see in the world. It’s an accumulator which we hope grows into a world-changing force for good.

As Commercial Operations Director, Alan oversees the development and deployment of the operating model that will support Insights on its next phase of growth as well as the day to day running of the commercial operations of the business. Learn more about Allan here.