Jason Pontin: Can technology solve our big problems?

In 1969, Buzz Aldrin's historical step onto the moon leapt mankind into an era of technological possibility. The awesome power of technology was to be used to solve all of our big problems. Fast forward to present day, and what's happened? Are mobile apps all we have to show for ourselves? Journalist Jason Pontin looks closely at the challenges we face to using technology effectively ... for problems that really matter.

TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more.

[wzz]

This is the voice we need for the world. Western people should be glad that people still can post video and have the lecture like this.

[jasonpontin]

The big idea worth spreading (such as it is) is that we can solve big problems with technology. In fact, we must. But big problems are hard.

To solve a big problem through technology requires, minimally, four things: 1). We must make a political decision to solve the problem; 2). Our institutions must fully support that decision; 3). The problem must really be technological; 4). We must understand the problem.

[visionbear]

You state a truth so self evident seen by so few from the time of THE CRUSADES and long before. We do so well spending money, motivation, and initiative to cause and create death and so little to share things of life and things needed for living throughout the world.

Your statement

" What might we have achieved if we could marshal that sort of effort for advancing the human condition? "

is so very true and profound !

[jasonpontin]

Yes, that's what I'm saying.

The big idea worth spreading is that we can solve big problems with technology. In fact, we must. But big problems are hard.

To solve a big problem through technology requires, minimally, four things: 1). We must make a popular political decision to solve the problem; 2). Our institutions must fully support that decision; 3). The problem must really be technological; 4). We must understand the problem.

[shankapalsurendrarao]

most of the problems can be solved using technology if there is concerted effort from all the stake holders! Alleviating hunger is not an issue if all mind

[CurtHowland]

I agree with him. humanity has reached the limit of what can be accomplished with government. It is time to seriously examine how to eliminate the institution of coercion so that people can live in peace instead of war.

[mikaeleriksson]

One of the best ted talks I`ve seen..

[joelporcaro]

probably the best TED talk iv ever seen

[nines]

All these things he mentions as being not as good as Mars colonies: cell phones, the internet, Facebook, etc. are far more valuable to most people's real lives than having a few dozen people doing science on Mars rather than on Earth. It may not have the glamour or the drama of a Mars colony, but as far as enriching human life goes, I know which one I'd pick. And I *love* astronomy.

[MrBluesandwhiskey]

i don't want to start an argument and I am certainly not anti science or ethically opposed to genetic engineering, but genetic engineering has done nothing to solve famine. If anything it has done the opposite. More calories can be produced per acre using ecological farming methods than any other system. And remember we don't have a food problem (there is plenty of food for everyone in the world), we have a distribution problem, which GE does nothing to solve.

[manirai]

Lately, I am also been thinking... What are my works for? Why I am so much passionate about technology that won't even solve my own problem? Why we are solving big organization problems ignoring major problems like war, education, poverty, health and much more.

[XnohbodyX]

And what is wrong with taking incremental steps towards a goal? For whether you climb stairs one or two at a time, you will spend just as long climbing them.

[richard_d_bird]

You'd better hope it can solve our problems. Because there sure as hell isn't anything else that can

[spencernorman]

Technological progress and global efforts are driving significant improvements worldwide. Solar energy costs have plummeted over 80% since 2009, now cheaper than coal at just 2.8 cents per kilowatt-hour. This renewable shift is revolutionizing our energy landscape. Simultaneously, global famine deaths have decreased by over 85%, dropping from about 3 million (2000–2010) to 400, 000–500, 000 (2010–2020), showcasing improved crisis responses. In healthcare, U.S. cancer mortality rates have seen a substantial 27.5% decline from 2000 to 2021. These advancements in energy, food security, and healthcare demonstrate how technology and better planning are in fact rapidly improving the world. Much more could be done, but don't let anybody tell you that improvements are not being made.

[RidzuanK]

Correct me if I'm wrong. So basically he is saying that even if you have the resources (technologies), if you don't know how to manage it (political involvement), you can't even solve a problem (like in the famine situation).

[mirandansa]

The point is that many people don't realize the obvious importance of a right focus for technological development.

[LanzhiYu]

This talk really reflects the situation quite well. In the states if you look at the number of people getting physics degrees it pretty much coincides with the problem's he's outlined.

[thekurdishgirl]

زۆر ڕاستەکەی ، مرۆڤەکان لەجیاتی ئەوەی بیر لە پێشکەوتنی مرۆڤایەتی بکەنەوە بیر لە لە پێگەی ولاتەکانیان دەکەنەوە ، بەلام ئیلۆن مەسک پێچەوانەی کەسانی ترە ، ئەو و ستیڤن هاوکینگ تاکە کەس بوون بیر لە هەموو مرۆۆڤایەتی دەکەنەوە نەک ولاتەکانیان

[kangsan]

Science can solve our big problems. TED should focus on these issues.

[shaneskull]

Interesting talk, it is true there are many hard problems to solve. I think energy storage and transportation is one of the biggest scientific problems we have at the moment. Battery tech has gotten better but unlike other areas of technology that are growing exponentially energy storage solutions are still growing at a snails pace. There are many places (deserts, ocean tides, etc) that can generate large amounts of natural energy if only we could store it efficiently and move it without loss.