Technology has significantly changed human behavior and society in recent years. The average attention span has decreased to 8 seconds due to information overload from the internet and smartphones. The rise of smartphones and constant connectivity through social media means relationships are built differently than in the past. However, literacy rates may be increasing as information is more accessible online and through mobile devices. Businesses are also adapting to these technological changes through crowdsourcing, mobile payment apps, sharing economies like Uber and Airbnb, and using smart user data to improve services. Wearable devices and health/fitness apps indicate technology is increasingly being used to track daily activities and improve individuals' well-being.

2. How technology
Changes
Behaviour

3. Overview
New technology is changing the way we think and act . Not only does tech
have the power to change our lives, it has the power to change the world
around us. We take a look at how modern technology has created a different
world to the one we were in ten years ago.

4. The impact
On Society.

5. Memory retention and attention spans
The average Internet user has an attention span of eight seconds – this is
down from 12 seconds in 2000*. Whilst some believe this information
overload allows us to process information more rapidly, many others believe
that millennials have low concentration, are unable to focus and think deeply
or strategically*. According to a study done in 2003, gamers process visual
information more quickly than non-gamers – clearly the overload of visual
stimuli contributes positively, rather than negatively.
*Source: http://www.statisticbrain.com/attention-span-statistics/
http://www.pewinternet.org/2012/02/29/main-findings-teens-technology-and-human-potential-in-2020/

6. The rise of the smartphone and connectivity
Smartphones, ever-present wifi, social media and faster Internet speeds
mean we are constantly in contact with everyone. The way we build and
develop relationships is entirely different to 15 or 20 years ago. This has
both positive and negative consequences; whilst our ability to stay in
touch or make new communications remotely has improved, our ability to
communicate face-to-face may be impacted*.
*Source: http://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/teacher-blog/2013/mar/11/technology-internet-pupil-attention-teaching

7. *Source:
http://wearesocial.net/blog/2015
/01/digital-social-mobile-
worldwide-2015/

8. *Source:
http://wearesocial.net/blog/20
15/01/digital-social-mobile-
worldwide-2015/

9. Literacy
Even though the current generation may have a shorter attention span, they
have greater access than ever before to information. Apart from the day-to-
day online access, there are a number of programs running in South Africa
and other developed countries that distribute textbooks and learning
materials to children and learners via text message and other networking
services*. Essentially, instead of forcing learners to learn the way they have
historically learned, technologically-savvy educators are realising it is best to
reach students the way they want to be taught.
*Source: http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120823-what-africa-can-learn-from-phones

10. How we listen, watch and engage
Technology has changed the way we consume media, not just on what (we
no longer need a radio to listen to music, or a television to watch films) but
also where and when we consume this media. 81% of consumers who
have wireless broadband in their home have taken their computer into the
bedroom; 51% have taken it into the kitchen, and 21% into the bathroom*.
We can consume whatever we want, wherever we want, at any time of the
day, thanks to smart devices. We can even give and watch presentations
remotely, or engage with various media on multiple devices
Source: http://hotelexecutive.com/business_review/1791/changes-in-consumer-media-consumption/

11. How we listen, watch and engage

12. Our health
Wireless technologies are changing our behaviour towards health and
fitness. In some instances good, in others bad. For health practitioners,
the capabilities are endless. Doctors can now keep track of patients’
health. Wearables for athletes can also provide data around recovery,
muscle endurance. For the average individual, apps like the Nike app
ensure we keep track of activity and push ourselves. There is even new
technology in cars that can prevent people driving if they have been
drinking*.
Source: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/technology/story/this-new-car-technology-wont-let-you-drink-and-
drive/1/425319.html

13. The impact
On business.

14. Overview
Because technology has changed the way we socialise with one another,
the businesses that we interact with on a day-to-day basis are changing
too. These companies (start-ups, organisations etc) are changing the
way they think and operate. With new digital tools, companies that might
once have been simply hardware makers (such as Jawbone) or service
providers (Expedia) are now taking on the role of influencer, attempting
to shape the habits of their users by exploiting the psychological
underpinnings of how people make choices.

15. Crowdsourcing
Crowdsourcing has existed for a while now, and it has impacted how
people raise money for creative and personal/ business projects. Twenty
years ago, if you wanted funding for anything, you had to go to friends,
or family, or the bank, or investors, and pitch the idea. Now, all you have
to do is out it on a crowdsourcing site and ask your peers for funding.
You are the master of your own destiny.

16. Crowdsourcing
Indiegogo, Crowdfund, Kickstarter… these platforms assist people to raise capital
for their individual or startup projects without the need to approach large investors.

17. Banking
Apps like Snapscan in South Africa that allow you to pay for goods
without a credit card or cash, or Facebook’s new money transfer
capabilities, or even Twitter’s ‘Pay with a tweet’are all adaptations based
on the way users want to bank and what people have come to expect;
convenience at their fingertips. Paypal for mobile even has a feature that
allows users to find nearby vendors that accept the service, helping to
marry the location and mobile element of the app.

18. Banking
Mobile payment apps such as Snapscan and Snapcash, the
ability of Smart watches to make mobile payments, and
Paypal’s ‘find a nearby vendor’ app function means the world
of banking is moving away from a traditional structure
towards a more technologically in-tune one.

19. Sharing economies
A sharing economy is one in which everyone participating gets to benefit
from resources they have which are not being used. The best examples
are Uber and AirBnb. The good thing about the sharing economy is that
it facilitates the use of underutilized resources. Anybody with houses or
apartments that have rooms empty can profit while allowing guests a
place to stay at often lower prices. Uber offers competitive fares – and its
drivers can drive as much or as little as they like, without making a
commitment to standard shifts.

20. Sharing economies
Uber and AirBnb are two of many of sharing economy services that have taken the
world by storm.

21. Smart data
“They expect companies have data on them. They just want it to do
something useful for them,”
Philip Wickline, CEO of Zaius

22. Smart data
Unlike traditional business models, more and more digitally-lead
services gather data on users at every step of the interaction and learn
from user preferences. These systems not only learn about you, they
learn the behaviour of all of their users, and can use this information to
improve these services. Through modelling, pattern recognition and
predictive algorithms, behaviour can be predicted and explained.
(source:http://www.technologyreview.com/news/535826/technology-and-persuasion/)

23. Smart data
Japan, in partnership with Panasonic,
recently developed a smart town outside of
Tokyo: Fujisawa Sustainable Smart Town
features homes with solar panels, batteries
for storing energy, LED lighting, ride-
sharing services and a community center
with a cafe and kitchen facility to hold
workshops and events.

24. Wearables and apps FOR EVERYTHING
There are devices and mobile apps to organise every moment of your life –
from things like Evernote, to apps that act as an online shopping list, there’s
even an app that allows you to scan barcodes on wine to keep track of which
wines you have tried, your rating and what your friends are drinking. There
are even apps to keep track of calories, exercise regimes and that track your
sleep. Wearable devices are becoming more pervasive ; The Apple watch
keeps you notified of everything on social media, tracks your movement and
fitness and reminds you to be more active.

25. A timeline of
wearables over the
past 7 years.
According to BI,
smart wrist wear
will make up 70% of
wearables
shipments
throughout the next
five years.

26. Conclusion
From our dating habits, to the way we sleep and even the way we work,
technology has impacted every facet of our lives. We plan events on social
media instead of in person, we are rarely more than a few feet from our
mobile devices and we track every aspect of what we do – even if we aren’t
doing it deliberately (if you have access to the Internet and a smart phone,
Google is tracking your movements). Trends like sharing economies and
smart data mean that consumers and entrepreneurs and businesses are
making smarter decisions that (positively) impact everyone’s lives.

27. Thank
you.