Two Essential Approaches Transforming Technology

For many years, technology has followed a linear trajectory, focusing on binary systems and stark contrasts. The advent of the internet has fostered a more interconnected world, rich in energy and collaboration.

What comes next? We are evolving. We're actively addressing the limitations of our linear past, which, while it propelled progress, also led to significant harm. This transformation is evident in my work on strategic, regenerative initiatives.

The era of Cartesian technology is behind us; Deep Ecology is emerging as the new paradigm for technology.

Has Descartes' Philosophy Run Its Course? Embracing Deep Ecology

As societal perspectives shift, deep ecology is becoming an enduring philosophy.

We are undoubtedly moving toward a future that is both systematic and capable of self-repair, even as people and resources face challenges throughout their journey. This truly regenerative potential is achievable.

In collaboration with numerous professionals across various projects, we are crafting a dynamic, ethical future for both urban and rural areas, embracing diverse cultures on every continent. This vision aligns economic practices with ecological principles and the essence of humanity.

Until now, technology has been characterized by uniformity, scale, and efficiency. The new guiding principles will differentiate the physical from the immaterial.

In the physical realm, our focus is on fostering local economies that produce regenerative products, ensuring basic needs are met, and promoting self-sufficiency akin to natural ecosystems—vibrant, collaborative networks.

In this narrative, I will illustrate both material and immaterial aspects through the lens of energy in buildings and data science. While technological advancement has accelerated, the detrimental effects of current business models are becoming increasingly apparent.

As highlighted in the documentary "Social Dilemma," technology can be remarkable, but the accompanying business strategies often manipulate our attention and time, fostering dependency—hardly conducive to a regenerative future, wouldn't you agree?

So, what are the two transformative approaches? I’ve already hinted at them: Dynamics and Design. The enlightened technologies of tomorrow will incorporate both.

Dynamic Solutions

Today's data technology consumes vast amounts of energy. Data centers often tout their sustainability efforts by situating themselves near renewable energy sources. However, a deeper examination reveals this is not a sustainable solution; it is fundamentally flawed.

What is the key to resolving this dilemma? We must consider the upstream flow, identifying the root of the problem. What is that root?

Our excessive attachment to the past drives the urge to store all data, leading to energy consumption issues and privacy concerns. This is why blockchain technology is so energy-intensive and why cloud computing disrupts our Wi-Fi systems.

In my experience using mobile Wi-Fi, I notice that my offline applications (like MS Office 2013) consume significantly less data than cloud-based ones (like MS Office 365). It’s a simple matter of business models…

The straightforward hack is this: we need to design our data technology with a fundamental decision at the outset: What data must we retain? What data should flow without being stored?

While storage can be necessary, particularly during this transitional era when ethical considerations have yet to permeate all societal systems, it is crucial for social media platforms like Facebook, Medium, and Twitter to reconsider their approach to data storage. We must prioritize time as a design factor and allow data to flow with minimal retention.

Perhaps content creators could opt to archive select pieces in a portfolio, but we must also find innovative ways to facilitate the flow of mass data without unnecessary storage.

Design Solutions

The second significant hack involves connecting various elements through forward-thinking design. Dr. Mehmet Yildiz has previously discussed Combinatorial Innovation, but we can aspire to far greater ambitions than what is currently unfolding in the tech and business sectors.

For instance, during a brainstorming session with the influential think tank Zero Emissions Research Initiatives (ZERI), we explored futuristic housing solutions leveraging gravity as an energy source.

The concept is straightforward: How can we harness gravity in our structures as an energy source? The roof exerts pressure through gravity, utilizing piezoelectric technology as the energy mechanism. An off-grid energy system can provide 12 V or 24 V—knowledge we already possess, as evidenced in automotive applications.

To activate the piezoelectric effect, we must induce movement, which can easily be achieved by constructing with bamboo—an earthquake-resistant alternative to concrete.

> The cement industry ranks among the top two contributors to carbon dioxide emissions, accounting for up to 8% of global human-made emissions, with 50% stemming from chemical processes and 40% from fuel combustion.

Advantages of this design integration include:

• Eliminating concrete, the most environmentally damaging building material
• Utilizing locally sourced, abundant materials like bamboo, which requires minimal water and no fertilizers, and can be harvested multiple times a year
• Harnessing gravity as a renewable energy source without additional materials like solar panels or windmills
• Minimizing energy storage needs since these buildings operate off-grid
• Ensuring earthquake-resistant structures
• Promoting healthy indoor environments with bamboo, free from harmful off-gassing materials
• Integrating nanotechnology and industrial hemp batteries as a sustainable alternative to lithium, which harms rainforests and is less efficient than graphene.

Key Takeaways

Dynamics and Design are poised to revolutionize technology. For widespread success, we must foster collaboration across borders and sectors.

Architects should work alongside battery manufacturers and piezoelectric specialists, while big tech firms create new ethical business models centered on synergy (1+1=3) and seamless flow. It’s achievable; we can make it happen.

We must recognize the vast opportunities before us and approach them with great ambition—aiming for moonshot innovations and quantum advancements toward a regenerative future.

As always, I encourage you to share your thoughts on this narrative.

Want to connect? You can find me exploring our beautiful planet, hands in the soil, eyes on the stars, or reach out through Linktree.

They will together unleash a regenerative future

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© Désirée Driesenaar