Idea Technology in the Social Sciences

Yesterday I was in a team meeting at work, where my boss usually shows a TED Talk to introduce the meeting.  Yesterday's TED talk was called "The way we think about work is broken" by Barry Schwartz.  Check it (video or transcript) out, if you have a chance --- if not, you're missing out and will be spoiled if you read this post... (warning: important parts mentioned in post)

Schwartz's words made me reflect on my time as a communication major undergrad, starting with when he mentions the concept of "idea technology"... 
What do you think he means by this?  Well, not to mean to brag, but I learned about that so-called "idea technology" during my last semester.  So what does it mean...? Well, my professor (who is now retired :( ) described it as how Google or some of the most profitable industries in the world house their ideas and data, but no products in their corporations.  Companies like that thrive on ideas, creativity, and hard work.  There is no ultimate product involved just mass amounts of data and ideas for projects that cannot physically be taken away. 

 

"This is the role that ideas play in shaping us as human beings, and this is why "idea technology" may be the most profoundly important technology that science gives us," speaks Shwartz.  What type of science is he even talking about you may ask, well BOOM!, it's the social sciences (not the usual importance of natural sciences)! My proud moment of being a communication major happened here...or even if any of you readers studied or are studying any of the subjects below... (sorry about the  bad internet quality), yes I am talking about you! 

Small Sidenote:
Also, I love when Shwartz mentions that "idea technology" is special in comparison to just regular technology, the "technology of things".  Ideas are irreplaceable, things are replaceable.

Shwartz ends with an inspirational statement, "The distinguished anthropologist, Clifford Geertz, said, years ago, that human beings are the "unfinished animals." And what he meant by that was that it is only human nature to have a human nature that is very much the product of the society in which people live. That human nature, that is to say our human nature, is much more created than it is discovered. We design human nature by designing the institutions within which people live and work. And so you people -- pretty much the closest I ever get to being with masters of the universe -- you people should be asking yourself a question, as you go back home to run your organizations. Just what kind of human nature do you want to help design?" Like wow, where do you even go from there?  Well, I was speechless... seriously I think I just wrote the SPOILERS (important parts) of the TED Talk. 

Not only was this an inspiration and proud moment as a past student of the social sciences, I hope it can benefit you because your idea matters as a human being, so "design" away!

Have a happy hump day!

Thanks for reading :)