How AI can enhance our memory, work, and social lives

Persinger, Danielle

ET

Gruber, T. (2017). How AI can enhance our memory, work and social lives. TED: Ideas worth spreading. Retrieved from:  https://www.ted.com/talks/tom_gruber_how_ai_can_enhance_our_memory_work_and_social_lives#t-749702

Tom Gruber, the co-creator of Siri, spends ten minutes discussing the future of learning and human interaction with Artificial Intelligence. This movement toward the future is not something to fear, rather it should be embraced. AI will offer new ways to perform our jobs and live our lives. Using AI in addition to humans, we can find 99.5% of cancerous cells, mitigate memory loss, and create infinite design ideas.

I'm a TED talks junkie. This video is fascinating and leaves me hopeful for the future. There are many ways we are already using AI to improve our lives and create a "super human" ability i.e. using Siri to remember deadlines and stay on track is a super human feat in my book. This technology will only continue to grow and I cannot help but be excited about the possibilities of increased equality opportunities.

Asking the right questions

Hoff, Jane

Z-UX User Experience

Schmidt, A. (2016, May 4). Asking the right questions | the user experience. Retrieved from http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2016/05/opinion/aaron-schmidt/asking-the-right-questions-the-user-experience/#_

Asking the right questions

Summary:  The author calls into question the age-old tactic of “give the consumer what they want” when planning library services.  The author points out that the responsibility then falls on the shoulders of those we aim to serve rather than the knowledgeable professionals trained to make such decisions.  He does advocate putting patrons’ needs first, however he suggests a different angle for gathering necessary information that will help LIS professionals create and design services around the needs of patrons.  Rather than asking a broad question of “what do you want in a library?” the author suggests asking, “how do you like to spend your time?” and “what interests do you have that you wish you had more information available to you?”

Review:  I really like how the author reframes the idea of serving our patrons and creating a user-focused design.  After years of customer service, where “the customer is always right,” I understand the conundrum that the author presents.  All too often the customer is not exactly right.  Too often the customer is not prepared to make decisions on the strategic plan of a business, and to follow the customer demands might in fact lead to failure.  But when you evaluate what the consumer (a broad swath of customers) are responsive to in the product or service you offer, you will have a fairly accurate direction to follow for success.  In library service, especially school library service where one’s budget is limited, it makes sense to ask questions that lead to understand trends that can serve the community better, rather than responding the few individuals who ask directly for a service or resource.  Asking a community how they spend their time, or how they would like to spend their time, might be a more feasible way of serving the community as a whole.