Five Links: Science and Human Behavior

Topics: Analytics, Big Data, Futures, Google Glass and Wearables, HR Technology, HR Trends, Industry Analysis, John Sumser, New Architecture of Work, by John Sumser

5 links human behavior on hrexaminer.com june 3 2014

This week’s links feature new ways to think about the future, a manual of cognitive science, the FTC on the ever changing data brokerage business, an inventory of today’s internet and an ode to wearable computing.

It’s odd that so much of HR focuses on administration and so little wonders about the structure of human performance. An average synapse contains 300,000 proteins whose function we do not understand. We’re missing key data about the physical interfaces between culture and data. The most important thing you can do (when thinking about humans and their potential) is to keep a very open mind. It’s way more likely that everything we know is wrong than the alternative.

This week’s links feature new ways to think about the future, a manual of cognitive science, the FTC on the ever changing data brokerage business, an inventory of today’s internet and an ode to wearable computing. Each link is a revelation.

  • Surprising ideas about the future from TED2014 speakers
    In a few words, these quotes manage to sketch global future as seen from the perspective of upper middle class Western participants in the tech economy.
  • Thinking & Writing : The CIA’s Guide to Cognitive Science & Intelligence Analysis
    The curated notes are fantastic. The paper is the CIA’s guide to clear communications based on the realities of the workings of the mind. ““With speech, much of the communication takes place in ways that do not involve words: in gesture, in tone of voice, in the larger context surrounding the exchange. Speech is a complex audio-visual event, and the implications we draw—the chunks we form—are derived from a whole network of signals. With writing there is nothing but the words on the paper. The result may be as rich as with speech—nobody would accuse a Shakespeare sonnet of lacking richness—but the resources used are far narrower.” Should be read by anyone who has to communicate to an upper level.
  • Data Brokers: A call for transparency and accountability
    The FTC’s analysis of the information brokerage business. Good source for understanding what’s being collected and what’s available. Anyone who reads this newsletter is a customer of data brokers.
  • Mary Meeker’s Annual Look At The Internet
    She’s the Nostradamus of the Internet. Meeker has been issuing this repart each year since forever. Take a look.
  • Wearable Computers Will Transform Language
    “Electric circuits are creeping ever closer to us—from our desktops to our laps, our pockets, and now our faces and wrists. And many engineers predict the trend will continue: In the coming decades, computers will be seamlessly woven into our clothing, fashioned into our jewelry, and painted on our skin. Eventually, we may not be able to distinguish their capabilities from our own.”

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About the author

John Sumser

John Sumser is a principal analyst for HRExaminer, an independent analyst firm covering HR Technology and the intersection of people, tech, and work. John’s mix of experience over the course of his career gives him a broad and unique perspective on the industry. Like anyone trying to process a lot of information, he is two or three steps ahead in some areas and still learning about others. Sumser’s work includes deep research into the nooks and crannies of HR Technology to identify and explain rapidly evolving trends. Built on a foundation of engineering, design, and philosophy, John’s seeks to understand and advise clients on where their technology works best, for whom, and in what context. Each year, John examines the insides of hundreds of companies, their products, and ecosystems. He delivers vendor analysis by building the framework from which to deliver the critique. He is constantly connecting and making visible the front end of change. He can help you see the path of evolution and the risks on the journey. The HRExaminer is Sumser’s vehicle for understanding and explaining the inner workings of the industry. With three weekly podcasts, and written commentary, he covers emerging ideas, the state of the industry, and the executives who operate it.

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