The complementary relationship between policy (societal-level) and design (ground level
Summary:
The book highlights the distinction between policy and design, emphasizing that each has its own strengths and blind spots.
It suggests that these two lenses can complement each other effectively. The book also explores how these spheres are converging.
Overall, it underscores the significance of these distinct yet complementary perspectives.
Transcript:
Speaker 1
One of the things that the book mentions early on is that policy and design have two very different, but I think complementary frames where design is kind of at the ground level of the User. And policy is at a level of society. And I think that each lens has its blind spots, and each lens has its strengths. And so I think those two things can really complement each other. There's a whole chapter on how to kind of how those spaces spheres broadly are kind of coming together. But I think they're two really important, very different complementary lenses.)
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(highlight:: Designing in Policy-Constrained Spaces
Summary:
Policy and the policy sphere move slower than the private sector, but for a good reason.
Policy shapes society at a deliberative pace, considering the impact of technology. It may be challenging, but dealing with constraints and getting creative within them fosters real creativity.
Transcript:
Speaker 1
And something to think about with regards to policy and the policy sphere is that it moves much slower than the private sector. And it kind of does that for a good reason. It does that because society gets shaped at a slower pace by policy, which is more deliberative than the private sector that's like iterating and putting stuff out, right? And you know what, that's okay. They operate in different timeframes. And so when you're in a more policy constrained space, that's the type of space you're in. You're in a more deliberative space that's thinking about the impacts of technology on society. And that's just the kind of space you're in. I realize that it can be challenging. But you know, there are a lot of interesting questions even within policy constrained spaces, you know, how you deal with the constraints, how you get creative within the constraints. I think that's where real creativity comes from. I mean, a blank slate is super fun, but like, it's not super challenging.)
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(highlight:: The Focus of Emerging Technology is on Finding Use Cases, Not Necessarily Assessing Potential Harms
Summary:
In start-up and emerging technology spaces, there is often a search for use cases.
Instead of starting with a problem and finding a solution, it's about having new tools and finding ways to apply them. It's like having a hammer and looking for nails.
This is true for voice interfaces and other emerging technologies.
As these technologies mature, their core elements become clearer.
But for now, there's still a lot that we don't know. Check out the Rabbit Hole podcast from the New York Times for more on this topic!
Transcript:
Speaker 1
What happens, I think, in a lot of these spaces where let's say, you know, it's kind of very start upy. And maybe you're working with a new technology like facial recognition. What is going on there is a search for use cases. So what does that mean? A search for use cases? It's you have this technology, and you're trying to figure out what problem does it solve, which runs very counter to the dog by that we hear in UX that you start with the problem, and then You find the solution that fits it. In these unconstrained spaces, it's really the other way around. You have some new capability, some new tools, some new way of doing things, and you're like, how do I plug this in?
Speaker 2
You got a hammer, you're looking for nails. Exactly. Exactly right.
Speaker 1
And so, you know, that's the case with, you know, voice interfaces. I mentioned, you know, I interviewed Phillip Hunter, who's worked on Amazon's Alexa, and he said, you know, he said, as technologies mature and gain widespread adoption, core elements Of it start to crystallize. But for emerging technologies, there's this you don't know yet. And you simply don't. And I don't know if folks have listened to the rabbit hole podcast from the New York Times. It's fantastic. I really recommend it.)
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(highlight:: Filling Educational Gaps in Design: Learning from EHR
Transcript:
Speaker 1
Maybe you're working with a new technology like facial recognition.)
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(highlight:: Programs bridging tech and government policy
Summary:
Interesting programs like the Aspen Tech Policy Hub and Tech Talent Project are bringing tech folks into government and teaching them policy.
Designers are also influencing policy agendas. Regulatory sandboxes allow startups to experiment with regulators to determine necessary policy constraints on emerging technology.
Transcript:
Speaker 1
There's also a lot of interesting programs that are bringing tech folks into government, or teaching, teaching a policy to two tech folks, and then having them advocate. There's a couple of really interesting programs called the Aspen Tech Policy Hub. There's a program called Tech Talent Project Encoding It Forward. There's, you know, designers attempting to influence policy agendas like the person I cited earlier. I think that there are some really interesting examples of that. And also, I'll just mention, you know, there's this idea of regulatory sandboxes, which, you know, they have kind of a mixed report card. But, you know, they are literally, you know, sandboxes where startups can experiment with regulators and sort of they can kind of see which policy constraints might be needed on emerging Technology. So that it's a more common thing sort of in the finance space. But I think it's a very interesting concept. It needs some work, it needs some love.)
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