Crossing the Chasm

In our introductory blog, I introduced TechHuman.org and introduced our purpose which is to see technology used for the good of all and to develop a clear Christian voice that can speak and help us to act on these issues before it is too late. In this post, I want to develop those ideas further.

What we have found so far

Collectively, we have been talking with a wide range of specialists across many disciplines. There is massive interest in these issues. In some areas we have found unquestioning enthusiasm, in other areas quiet concern. Some people we speak with are frightened at the scale and pace of change. Still others think that it is too late to ‘do anything’ - we are already being swept along by an irresistable torrent.

We have been pleasantly surprised at the level of activity and quality of insights being developed. What is disappointing is that there is relatively little overall coherence to this work: it is often conceptual and frequently focused on potential harms while seeming to ignore immediate dangers. We want to help organise and enrich some of that foundational work, and begin to generate compelling, practical insights addressing both present and anticipated needs at all levels of society.

This site is intended to offer a platform where resources can be offered to all who might be interested. Sitting behind this site is a community who are collaborating informally; discussing and developing understanding and practical recommendations.

At this early stage we want to focus our output on three particular interested groups:

1. Leaders of all sorts - business, community, spiritual

2. Families and

3. Technology professionals.

We want to offer more understanding of what is actually happening in the digital revolution. We want to embrace all that we see to be positive in this mass of creativity and technological innovation. Where it is merited we want to offer critical insights, and practical action. We want to offer hope where we can to those who are beginning to despair. We want to calm some of the most extreme fears, and we want to introduce some sense of caution and care where perhaps we have only unbridled enthusiasm for everything technical .

How do we want to go about this task?

In my mind’s eye I can see a picture – two pieces of land separated by a deep gorge – like the picture from Zambia (right). There is no way to get from one side to the other without using the bridge. Our society, communities and families are living on one side of the gorge – with limited understanding of the impact (for good or ill) of new technology. We are largely being driven along by it. On the other side of the gorge there are numbers of people working to develop insights into what is beneficial and what is not. They are doing some great work. Those of us on the ‘living side’ can only hear occasional faint shouts from the other. Much of their work is going to waste.

TechHuman is trying to contribute in two ways:

1. Helping to develop of insight – looking to develop and gather understanding from across a range of disciplines; and
2. Bridge building – ensuring that those insights reach and can be used by the communities who need them.

TechHuman wants to provide a safe place where some of the conversations required to develop these positions can take place, particularly:

1. understanding as far as possible, the most significant impacts of the digital revolution on human life; for families, communities, and on society.
2. developing informed, relevant Christian perspectives and principles around how we can live vibrant lives in the modern world embracing technology where it helps.
3. informing and educating individuals, communities, influencers and governments on the implications of these technologies and advise on how they should be handled.
4. developing practices and policies that maximise the beneficial impact of these technologies for the many rather than the few.
5. striving to ensure these technologies will not used as tools of control or oppression.

We want to help gather the right people; to facilitate dialogue and to develop practical approaches and resources to help develop a comprehensive, thoughtful Christian response to the technology-enriched challenges we are facing today.

Jonathan Ebsworth