Every day new ideas spring to life and the social change world eagerly adopts new technologies, new programs, and new initiatives to better the lives of people around the world. Innovation is good, right? Well, not necessarily. Kevin Starr, a philanthropist and head of the Mulago Foundation, cautions us to think more realistically about the impact of new ideas. In a searing talk, Mulago explains how NOT to change the world, highlighting examples like the One Laptop per Child initiative. Children in developing countries don't need laptops, he explains, and practically speaking it is unwise to put expensive technology in the hands of children in vulnerable environments. Is technology good? Yes. Is education? Yes. But do those things necessarily lead to putting technology in the hands of children? No. What do you think? What are meaningful markers of the success of an idea?Is Innovation Always a Good Thing?
Every day new ideas spring to life and the social change world eagerly adopts new technologies, new programs, and new initiatives to better the lives of people around the world. Innovation is good, right? Well, not necessarily. Kevin Starr, a philanthropist and head of the Mulago Foundation, cautions us to think more realistically about the impact of new ideas. In a searing talk, Mulago explains how NOT to change the world, highlighting examples like the One Laptop per Child initiative. Children in developing countries don't need laptops, he explains, and practically speaking it is unwise to put expensive technology in the hands of children in vulnerable environments. Is technology good? Yes. Is education? Yes. But do those things necessarily lead to putting technology in the hands of children? No. What do you think? What are meaningful markers of the success of an idea?
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