Open letter to (our) digital future

We are becoming more and more accustomed to the idea that digital technologies are in themselves one of the main drivers of human evolution and that we can rely on them to solve the problems we encounter on our journey.

But hypothesising operational scenarios and designing systems on the basis of mere technological capabilities without giving due consideration to the 'human factor' implies taking the road towards a kind of "trans-humanism", where change is governed more by technological evolution than by respect for people's real needs.

The idea that technologies could offer a hope of redemption is not new: machines could free human beings from the burdens and limitations imposed on their existence. But history, since the industrial revolution, has on several occasions belied this hope, and today the hoped-for total digitisation that should provide answers to all kinds of social and economic problems runs the risk of becoming "technological millenarianism".

Technological rationality

It is the aspirations for improvement inherent in human beings that are the random variable that introduces a paradigm shift. The idea that one day our whole world will be governed by technological rationality and that every area of it will be graspable, predictable and manageable is in open contrast to the authorship of human beings with regard to their lives and choices.

Think of the concept of strong Artificial Intelligence, where machines can become sapient and conscious, that is, aware. This is a mechanistic view that reduces the complexity of the world to rules and patterns, where behaviour and actions are determined by sensory stimuli and are therefore highly predictable and reproducible. But it is no longer reasonable to make people into functional units capable of reproducing actions within ordered systems as in the Taylorist factory.

Today, in order to be competitive, organisations are seeking and investing in people's curiosity and creativity as primary values on which to base transformations, i.e. the changes that evolution requires in order to be implemented. It is the talents of individuals that need to be harnessed first and foremost, and technology must be functional to this, freeing people from redundant repetitive activities that take up time and perhaps allow organisation to be implemented, but without making any real contribution to evolution.

Companies have started digital transformation projects to create greater efficiency and organisation, but only rarely have they thought of adapting them also to the real needs of users, to find the easiest paths and allow them to express their real potential. A wasted opportunity, if we think of the added value that the human intellect can bring, if put in a position to be freed from the burdens of onerous tasks.

Does the digital future take people into account?

Therefore, a digital transformation project cannot be called complete if it does not include people in this equation, and furthermore, without such attention we have noticed that investments risk not reaching an acceptable level of success due to inevitable resistance to change and the resulting low adoption rates, wasted resources and long implementation times.

Our future could be better if only digital could amplify the human potential and peculiarities conceived in their uniqueness, which is why we need to adopt a culture of "digital humanism". We are not alone in wanting to rethink digital with a new approach, but we enthusiastically adhere to this perspective now part of the debate, also expressed by some brilliant analysts at Gartner such as:

«is the notion that people are the central focus in the manifestation of digital businesses and digital workplaces. Businesses who embrace digital humanism use technology to redefine the way people achieve their goals and enable people to achieve things not previously possible».

Digital humanism is the result of a not yet fully expressed convergence between our cultural heritage and technology that has produced an unprecedented social sphere. This convergence, instead of creating a mere transition between the past and the present, has redefined concepts, categories, objects, behaviours and associated practices, all in a new environment. Digital humanism is the affirmation that technology, in its global dimension, is a culture, as it creates a new context, on a global scale.

It is with the intention of contributing to this perspective, to which we have already committed ourselves in order to make it a daily practice, that I am very pleased to promote, together with our company, the  Manifesto of the Digital Person, a commitment of responsibility for sustainable technologies for employees and companies.

We have identified ten principles that, in our opinion, are useful in building a better digital future for those who live it, experiencing it on a daily basis in our client realities.

This open letter is meant to be an invitation to reflect on the issue, to generate a conscious digitisation movement, where it is technologies that are tailor-made for people and not vice versa.

Anyone can sign the Manifesto of the Digital Person and be part of this change. 

*Article by Fabio Mavaracchio, CEO of WEGG.