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Maslow ’ s hierarchy of needs in the digital age
From time to time , The DCA likes to take a step back from ‘ what ’ to consider ‘ why ’. Jon Summers , Research Lead at RI . SE & DCA Advisory Board Member , writes in collaboration with ChatGPT , discussing how the digital age has changed the way we operate and function and how the hierarchy of needs provides a useful framework for examining how technology is driving such transformational change .
Abraham Maslow was a psychologist and first published his ‘ hierarchy of needs ’ theory in 1943 , which was of course before the ‘ digital / data centre age ’ we all know and accept . As a research engineer working with digitalisation , it made sense to address the topic using the OpenAI initiative , ChatGPT , for some help . The following text on the subject is the result of several iterations of using ChatGPT .
Maslow ’ s hierarchy of needs is a theory in psychology that describes how human needs are arranged in a hierarchy . The hierarchy begins with the most basic physiological needs and ends with selfactualisation requirements . Digitalisation has transformed the way we fulfil our needs and it is crucial to understand how these changes impact our well-being . Maslow ’ s hierarchy of needs provides a useful framework for examining how technology is transforming the way we live and interact with the world around us .
The first two needs – physiological and safety – have in many ways become easier to fulfil in the digital age . Online platforms have made it possible to access these basic necessities without leaving our homes . For example , food delivery services , online grocery stores and telemedicine services to name a few , have made it possible to fulfil our physiological and safety needs without having to venture out into the physical world . However , one could equally argue that we have allowed ourselves to become vulnerable to supply shortages due to the ‘ Just in Time ’ model of supply chain technologies , raising the question of local sustainability and food security .
Additionally , the Internet-of-Things ( IoT ) has made it possible to control our home temperature , lighting and security remotely , making it easier to maintain a safe and comfortable living environment . However , the digital age has also created new challenges , including the need for better cybersecurity measures to protect our financial and personal information . From a personal security point of view , people are perhaps too absorbed by technology . Many of us walk around with our heads down staring at our omniscient smartphones , rather than observing what is happening around us .
The next two needs – love / belonging and esteem – have also been impacted by digitalisation . Social media platforms have made it easier to connect with others and find individuals with similar interests , values and conspiracies . Then again , are we always talking to who we think we are talking to ? There are clearly some www . intelligentdatacentres . com
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