A Year-Long Initiative that Examines Technology’s Impact on Our Future- Beginning Today with a Reddit Ask Me Anything Hosted by World Wide Web Inventor Sir Tim Berners-Lee
New York, NY – WIRED and Nokia today announced maketechhuman, a new initiative created to start a conversation about technology, its role in society, and whether it truly serves humanity. The goal of the initiative is to identify opportunities and challenges created by technology, and then shape the future in a positive direction through conversation, awareness, and content.
“Although technology has ushered in an extremely exciting era of unprecedented productivity, convenience, collaboration, and creativity, it’s also shaken up our security, our privacy, and our jobs in many ways. As the role of technology continues to expand our lives, we feel it’s time to start a conversation to ensure that technology serves humanity and not the other way around,” says Barry French, Head of Marketing and Corporate Affairs, Nokia. “Nokia turns 150 years old in May of this year. Our aim is to expand the human possibilities of the connected world and, true to that vision, we look forward to the future with a desire to talk about both the challenges and the extraordinary potential of our technological path ahead.”
“We are very excited to launch this important and timely conversation with Nokia,” said Kim Kelleher, publisher and chief revenue officer. “WIRED has always been optimistic about the future of technology.”
The initiative, which runs through November 2015, kicks-off today with a Reddit Ask Me Anything (AMA) hosted by Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web. The AMA, intended to give a passionate social community the once-in-a-lifetime chance to speak with a luminary in the WIRED world, goes live at 2 p.m. EDT / 8:00 p.m. EET on Reddit, which receives more than 50 million visitors a day.
Also today, WIRED and Nokia are launching a content hub-a first-of-its-kind narrative on WIRED.com. Throughout the duration of the initiative, the hub will serve as place for users to share their enthusiasm and concerns about technology. Based on user feedback, topics will be determined and content will be created. Videos, short web posts, and long form articles will be published regularly by WIRED’s Brand Lab, comprised of industry luminaries, experts, and notable writers.
Later in the fall, WIRED and Nokia will hold the first-ever maketechhuman Summit-an event that will highlight the innovative solutions for the important issues uncovered throughout the initiative. The program will wrap with a documentary recapping the key learnings.
People can begin submitting topics for consideration today at WIRED.com/maketechhuman or via social media with the hashtag #maketechhuman
About Nokia
Nokia invests in technologies important in a world where billions of devices are connected. We are focused on three businesses: network infrastructure software, hardware and services, which we offer through Nokia Networks; location intelligence, which we provide through HERE; and advanced technology development and licensing, which we pursue through Nokia Technologies. Each of these businesses is a leader in its respective field. http://company.nokia.com
About WIRED
WIRED is where tomorrow is realized. It is the essential source of information and ideas that make sense of a world in constant transformation. The WIRED conversation illuminates how technology is changing every aspect of our lives-from culture to business, science to design. The breakthroughs and innovations that we uncover lead to new ways of thinking, new connections, and new industries. WIRED reaches more than 30 million people each month through WIRED.com, our digital edition, the magazine, social media, and live events.