The Future is Low-Tech

The Austin Forum on Technology & Society brings people together to learn about emerging and pervasive technologies and their importance, influence, and impact on society.Every month, hundreds  of technology leaders, innovators, creatives and other interested persons come to share information and stimulate collaborations to promote technology applications that advance society.Through our monthly events, the Austin Forum Upload podcast, and the Austin Forum Update blog, the Austin Forum on Technology & Societyexplores a wide variety of topics and stimulates discussions, collaborations, and partnerships on new technology opportunities.The Austin Forum explores technology applications, opportunities, and policies in all aspects of society: health/medicine, business/industry, science/research, education, government, entertainment, and social good.The Austin Forum monthly events are free and open to the public.

The Austin Forum on Technology & Society

Join us in-person on Tuesday, September 1st with tech anthropologist Jésabel DC.

The Center for Government and Civic Service, ACC Rio Grande: Building 3000

This event will be held in person only.In the early 2000s, the internet was a place we went. The family computer lived in a specific room of the house; we logged on, did what we came to do, and then went back to our actual lives. As the economics of technology shifted toward engagement, retention and attention – that relationship changed. Products became more seamless, persistent, personalized and difficult to leave.The Future Is Low-Tech is a framework that looks back at technology from the early 2000s to identify design principles that may become increasingly important as AI and digital systems grow more embedded in everyday life.In this presentation, we will explore:<ul><li>Orientation: What loading bars, menus, instructions and visible systems understood about helping people know where they are and what is happening</li><li>Useful Friction: Why making everything seamless isn’t always better – and how pauses, choices and effort can increase understanding and agency.</li><li>Boundaries: What older technologies can teach us about designing clearer beginnings, endings and opportunities to disengage.</li><li>Letting the User Go: How we might build commercially successful technology that helps people accomplish something without demanding more of their attention.</li></ul>This presentation is for everyone, but especially for technologists, designers, product teams, and anyone thinking about what comes next. It offers a practical lens for questioning the assumptions built into the technologies we make: what should be automated, what should remain visible, where people need more control and what kind of relationship we ultimately want technology to have with the people using it.Continued Conversation &amp; Networking The discussion doesn’t end when the panel wraps up! Join us immediately following the presentation for post-event networking and continued conversation at <a href="https://www.remedyaustin.com/" title="https://www.remedyaustin.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Remedy</a>, located at <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Remedy/@30.2670554,-97.752168,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x8644b5002e988891:0x4febcb4b1afde5e!8m2!3d30.2670554!4d-97.7495877!16s%2Fg%2F11wmbzmyz5?entry=ttu&amp;g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDcwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D" title="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Remedy/@30.2670554,-97.752168,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x8644b5002e988891:0x4febcb4b1afde5e!8m2!3d30.2670554!4d-97.7495877!16s%2Fg%2F11wmbzmyz5?entry=ttu&amp;g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDcwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">3rd &amp; Nueces</a>. Connect with fellow attendees, swap insights from the event, and enjoy a complimentary drink on us, thanks to our amazing Austin Forum <a href="https://www.austinforum.org/partners" title="https://www.austinforum.org/partners" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Annual Partners</a>, <a href="https://www.austinforum.org/champions" title="https://www.austinforum.org/champions" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Champions</a>, and <a href="https://www.austinforum.org/friends" title="https://www.austinforum.org/friends" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Friends</a>. Attendance InstructionsIn-personJoin us at The Center for Government and Civic Service, ACC Rio Grande: Building 3000 where you will be checked in at the front. Parking map <a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/6655f10a960c803d55554e19/t/66bb8debac25a102354b4315/1723567596161/ACC+RG+Parking.pdf" title="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/6655f10a960c803d55554e19/t/66bb8debac25a102354b4315/1723567596161/ACC+RG+Parking.pdf" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">here</a>!In-person attendees, please join us from 5:15 to 6:15 for networking and snacks. We look forward to chatting with you face-to-face!

The Future is Low-Tech

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