Issue 65: The Slow Road to Sudden Change
Welcome to Backstory, a weekly newsletter turning global technology shifts into a three-minute read. This week, we’re thinking about how the Covid-19 pandemic is changing the way we think about design – Mary Ames, Director of Strategy
THE BIG TAKE
The Slow Road to Sudden Change
Have you noticed all the changes to our physical spaces since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic? Of course you have. Every built environment and the ways we move through them has transformed seemingly overnight. From plexiglass shields in front of cashiers at grocery stores to the myriad queues to limit the number of people in a given place, our physical world is now defined by hyperawareness. While these changes are jarring, they allow us to rethink how we interact with physical space. Some future-forward cities began this process years ago.
Human-centric design: These dramatic shocks have caused intense interest and discussion about how design can adapt in the post-pandemic landscape. In a recent feature for the New York Times, writer Kim Tingley set the scene. She noted that “architecture has to mediate between the perceived needs of the moment versus the unknowable needs of the future; between the immediate needs of our bodies and the desire to create something that will outlast generations.” That’s great but what about the human element?
Pandemic proof: A city, Aristotle wrote, comes into being for the sake of life, but exists for the sake of living well. Responding to the pandemic has been the ultimate test of how cities can exist for the sake of the living. Those that invested early in smart infrastructure have weathered the Covid storm far better than those that lagged behind. Consider Dubai’s early investments in smart city infrastructure. With the ability to allocate resources efficiently, Dubai was able to deliver services where they were needed with virtually no delay. The human element drove decisions.
The future, today: Urban aesthetics are transforming as a result of Covid-19. From our shared offices to our home offices, few spaces will be left as they once were. The challenge is to ensure that the human-centric approach continues to drive decision making. We’ve been writing about the need for wellness in our cities, societies, and selves during this pandemic. That doesn’t end with urbanism. If anything, it begins there. The UAE, and Dubai in particular, has put a major emphasis on building the city to work for people and not the other way around. The pandemic is an opportunity for true innovation in this space. Sudden change can take a long time to materialize.
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
This week, we’re asking you about design. When was the last time you thought about great design? Get in touch across our social media channels @xische with your thoughts, feelings, and answers. Or drop us a line and just say hello.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Art is solving problems that cannot be formulated before they have been solved. The shaping of the question is part of the answer.”
– Pete Hein, Danish architect
COVID19 STORIES
We are passionate about telling human stories. Now more than ever, those stories involve you. Covid19 Stories is a showcase of words, photos, and videos of our global community designed to celebrate shared experiences from this time of isolation. Powered by Empowering through, this exhibition is a dynamic and living testament to the historic moment we’re living through. Visit Covid19 Stories to share your story today.
OUR VIEWS THIS WEEK
Cashless future: As we noted above, Covid-19 is rapidly changing virtually all aspects of our lives. One area you may not have considered is money. Contactless payments and digital money are surging as a result of the pandemic. In a new article published by Xische, we think about what the cashless shift means for the UAE and how local companies can continue to innovate in the sector.
Creating the internet: For most of their existence, social media companies have tried their best to stay away from content moderation. Leading platforms such as Facebook and Twitter have repeatedly argued that they can’t be the arbiters of truth or the editors of perceptions. That’s all changing now. Twitter has started moderating content from major figures such as US President Donald Trump. This week, we explored how content moderation is a perfect opportunity for small states like the UAE to help define the internet we want.
A MESSAGE FROM DIGITAI
Artificial Intelligence can work for you. The pace of AI innovation is undeniable. With so many options to choose from, how can you be sure that you are making AI work for your needs? Discover what we’re doing at Digit Ai, a Xische company, to accelerate organisational capacity building that leverages AI and machine learning. Find solutions that make business sense and embrace the power of AI.
SPOTTED ELSEWHERE
How to eat paper: This week we’re going with a food theme for our ‘Spotted Elsewhere’ section because lockdown has us thinking about food. Have you ever wanted to eat paper? Neither have we, but leave it to Japanese designers to develop edible notepads complete with coffee-flavored pens. While it might not be everyone’s cup of tea, it’s surely one of the most innovative attempts at recycling we’ve seen.
Childhood delights: Speaking of flavors, Popular Science magazine took a fascinating deep dive into the flavor science behind Haribo’s gummy bears. In business for close to 100 years, the German company produces up to 100 million gummy bears each day and has an advanced team of flavor scientists crafting new ways to engage customers’ palates. Given everything happening in the world, it’s nice to know that old staples like Haribo are continuing to devise recipes that will continue to inspire.
QUICK HITS
We only need 110 people to set up a colony on Mars.
Don’t miss this interview with visionary investor Marc Andreessen.
A history of alien languages. Aliens from outer space.