Welcome to Backstory, a weekly newsletter turning global technology shifts into a three-minute read. This week, we’re thinking about rest during intense periods of work – Mary Ames, Director of Strategy

THE BIG TAKE

Middle Sunday and You

One of the most storied sporting events in history just ended in traditionally dramatic fashion. The tennis tournament at the All England Club, known as Wimbledon, is one of the cornerstones of sport during the summer months. While many fascinating plotlines were unfolding on the court, this tournament was special in a unique regard this year. It will be the final tournament in nearly one hundred years of history that will feature a “Middle Sunday’. That got us thinking about this quirky but needed tradition. 

A logical step: Grand slam tennis tournaments (including Wimbledon, the Australian, French, and US opens) are traditionally played over two weeks. For as long as anyone can remember, the middle Sunday during these events has been an off day with no tennis taking place. Players have a chance to rest and the grounds crew take the day to prepare the courts for the final week of action. This year was the final year that Wimbledon will have a Middle Sunday. The organizers have decided that the tradition is from a bygone era and would prefer to keep the action going (and the fan revenue high) from next year’s tournament. 

New partnerships: While it is hard to fault the Wimbledon organizers for increasing revenue, there is something beautiful about the idea of middle Sunday. In the midst of one of the world’s most gruelling tennis tournaments, everyone gets a day off. As we enter Eid, we can all appreciate the beauty of a well-deserved break. A time to recharge and refocus. Wimbledon merely reflects our fast-paced times by forgoing Middle Sunday, but that shouldn’t prevent us from finding our own “Middle Sunday” amidst our busy schedules. Rest is the ultimate key to productivity.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“You cannot swim for new horizons until you have courage to lose sight of the shore”

– William Faulkner

OUR VIEWS THIS WEEK

Taking flight: Some parts of the world are opening up (finally!), which means that more of us are jumping on airplanes. To say that the airline industry had a rough year would be an understatement, but now that people are flying again, we decided to take stock of the sector and chart where the next innovations will take shape. Here’s a hint: we are about to see supersonic airplanes running on clean biofuel. Exciting times ahead! 

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. Companies such as Twitter have started moderating content from major figures such as US President Donald Trump. This week, we explore how content moderation is a perfect opportunity for small states like the UAE to help define the internet we want.

SPOTTED ELSEWHERE

The beauty of neurons: Do you ever take time to consider the majesty of neurons? We didn’t think so. But they are truly fascinating. In this piece, an exceptional scientist named Randy Gallistel explains how neurons contain machinery that stores numbers, that arithmetically-manipulates numbers to generate new numbers, and that retrieves stored numbers to generate behavior-controlling signals. Remarkable! 

The four-day week: Japan is pushing ahead with a four-day work week. It’s an old idea that is getting new life as more governments around the world consider implementing the structure to improve productivity. Writing in the Washington Post, Christine Emba says that “when we focus on how a shorter workweek will make us better employees, we’re making the wrong argument to our bosses and ourselves. The four-day workweek shouldn’t just be about becoming more productive — the real benefit is that it would allow us to be fuller people.”

QUICK HITS

• The genius neuroscientist who might hold the key to True AI

• Why it’s time to think differently about Covid.

• A virtual coffee machine for remote working.

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