6 Companies Making Tech More Humane

TL;DR

Six presenters from the Center for Humane Technology course community share projects intended to make technology more supportive of human connection, health, and well-being. The excerpt focuses on Stephen Crane’s Sunny, a free app offering science-based activities across seven themes, from saying thanks to checking on someone. Each logged action also prompts a donation to a community nonprofit, making the details worth exploring.

Transcript

welcome everybody my name is kellen klein and i'm the course manager at the center for humane technology and this is our inaugural what we're building session which is an opportunity for all of you our course community to share with uh one another and with the cht team what you are building and i am so grateful to have our six initial presenters th... Read More

Key Insights

• 😑 Social isolation and loneliness are pressing issues, with innovative tech solutions being developed to foster connection and support, as highlighted by various speakers.
• 🛟 Programs like Citizen Digital Foundation emphasize the need for responsible technology that serves marginalized communities, particularly in diverse cultural contexts like India.
• 😀 The app Verbena showcases the importance of tailored support for individuals dealing with health challenges, providing a platform for shared emotional experiences.
• 💉 Blue Fever illustrates the evolving needs of Gen Z, prioritizing safe self-expression, social support, and positive guidance to enhance mental health.
• ❓ There's a significant market opportunity for technology that facilitates community and connection, especially in underserved populations.
• 📺 Collaboration among presenters and organizations can amplify their impact and reach, suggesting a shared vision for humane technology development.
• 😒 Effective community engagement and education are crucial for creating awareness about responsible tech use and its implications for well-being.

Questions & Answers

Q: What humane technology projects are presented in this session?

The inaugural “What We’re Building” session features six presenters selected from the Center for Humane Technology course community. The page highlights projects including Sunny, Citizen Digital Foundation, Verbena, and Blue Fever, all focused on areas such as connection, responsible technology, health support, or mental well-being.

Q: What is the purpose of Stephen Crane’s Sunny app?

Sunny is a digital guide designed to inspire and facilitate a daily practice of kindness and connection. It addresses social isolation and loneliness by helping people take small, meaningful actions for themselves and others.

Q: What activities does Sunny recommend?

Sunny organizes its suggestions into seven themes: saying thanks, encouraging someone, checking on someone, lending a hand, saying hello, having fun, and taking care of yourself. Users can choose a quick action of the day or browse a deeper library of actions, stories, videos, and science-based resources.

Q: How does Sunny make acts of connection easier?

Sunny provides simple, science-based activities and supports users in completing them immediately. For example, an activity about thanking someone by text includes a template that users can personalize and send.

Q: What happens when someone logs an action in Sunny?

For every action logged in the app, Sunny makes a donation to a community nonprofit. The intended result is for one action to benefit the user, someone they know, and people in their wider community.

Q: Is Sunny free, and does it use advertising or sell user data?

Sunny is free to use because it operates as an initiative of the nonprofit Barnes Family Foundation. Stephen Crane says the app does not need to sell data or run ads.

Q: Who is Stephen Crane, and what was his role in creating Sunny?

Stephen Crane describes himself as a Stanford University research scholar and behavior designer working on projects that promote health and well-being. He collaborated on Sunny’s designs and provided scientific content review and behavior suggestions.

Q: What behavior-design principles guide Sunny?

Sunny is based on the idea that tiny actions are building blocks for meaningful relationships. Its activities are designed to be easy enough to complete regardless of a person’s motivation level, while experts review suggestions to reduce the risk of inadvertent harm.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The session featured six presenters from the Center for Humane Technology, each sharing their innovative projects aimed at enhancing social connections and addressing mental health issues.

• Key highlights included apps like Sunny and Verbena, which focus on facilitating meaningful interactions and support for users facing loneliness and medical challenges.

• The presenters emphasized collaboration, community involvement, and the importance of aligning technology with humane principles to foster well-being.