The human side of innovation

The great challenges of modern-day society require real innovation. I have in mind climate change, the global financial crisis, ageing populations and the social cohesion in everyday life. People and society are constantly changing and yesterday’s solutions no longer fit the bill.

Technology as a cure-all?
Technological advances are often hailed as ‘guardian angels’. For example, technology that makes it increasingly easy to generate cleaner forms of energy. Or the benefits of increasingly intuitive computers. Another example would be the advances in medical technology that enable the elderly to be more self-sufficient. And there are bound to be computer programs able to predict the risks of certain financial products.

The human touch is indispensible
Technological innovation certainly has its benefits but at the end of the day, it’s the human element that counts. Technology makes a lot of things possible but where would we be without human beings who are willing and able to utilize these opportunities. We must be able to exploit the benefits of technology, have the skill to master it and be able to feel comfortable using it. The sticking point is often not the technological innovation itself but rather its application and use. Technology needs to be securely embedded in our society.

Research challenges
A university such as ours, that concentrates on the humanities and bears the standard Understanding Society, focuses strongly on the human side of innovation. A few examples to note include: research into the psychology of choice and behaviour; the study of artificial intelligence and the relationship between humans and computers; management in innovation process organizations; and protecting our right to privacy and intellectual property.

We are at the frontline of the human side of innovation!