Maintaining Independent Choice in a Digitally Curated World | Kristi Woolsey | TEDxPittsburgh

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] we humans pride ourselves on our

we humans pride ourselves on our

we humans pride ourselves on our independence our self-control our

independence our self-control our

independence our self-control our freedom right you grocery guy you put

freedom right you grocery guy you put

freedom right you grocery guy you put the milk in the back of the store to try

the milk in the back of the store to try

the milk in the back of the store to try to get me to buy more but I’m on to you

to get me to buy more but I’m on to you

to get me to buy more but I’m on to you and with that awareness we will avoid

and with that awareness we will avoid

and with that awareness we will avoid your traps I don’t think so if you turn

your traps I don’t think so if you turn

your traps I don’t think so if you turn right rather than left you will spend an

right rather than left you will spend an

right rather than left you will spend an average of $2 more per trip and if you

average of $2 more per trip and if you

average of $2 more per trip and if you put fresh foods in your basket first you

put fresh foods in your basket first you

put fresh foods in your basket first you will put more of other items in your

will put more of other items in your

will put more of other items in your basket and it’s not just the grocery

basket and it’s not just the grocery

basket and it’s not just the grocery store lots of other kinds of retail the

store lots of other kinds of retail the

store lots of other kinds of retail the casino multi-family housing and even the

casino multi-family housing and even the

casino multi-family housing and even the office designers who understand behavior

office designers who understand behavior

office designers who understand behavior can influence your choices with the

can influence your choices with the

can influence your choices with the environments they create we humans find

environments they create we humans find

environments they create we humans find it easier to think conceptually under a

it easier to think conceptually under a

it easier to think conceptually under a high ceiling and we focus better and

high ceiling and we focus better and

high ceiling and we focus better and make decisions faster under low ceilings

make decisions faster under low ceilings

make decisions faster under low ceilings so when you head out to buy a new car

so when you head out to buy a new car

so when you head out to buy a new car and you’re in that showroom with its

and you’re in that showroom with its

and you’re in that showroom with its very high ceiling it is much easier to

very high ceiling it is much easier to

very high ceiling it is much easier to imagine yourself in a new car and when

imagine yourself in a new car and when

imagine yourself in a new car and when you’re done imagining the lovely

you’re done imagining the lovely

you’re done imagining the lovely salesperson will take you into a smaller

salesperson will take you into a smaller

salesperson will take you into a smaller room with a lower ceiling so that you

room with a lower ceiling so that you

room with a lower ceiling so that you can make the decisions that need to be

can make the decisions that need to be

can make the decisions that need to be done in order to close the deal but you

done in order to close the deal but you

done in order to close the deal but you say I willingly traveled the distance

say I willingly traveled the distance

say I willingly traveled the distance between my internet research and that

between my internet research and that

between my internet research and that dealership

dealership

dealership I was not manipulated okay maybe

I was not manipulated okay maybe

I was not manipulated okay maybe but what happens as the world of bricks

but what happens as the world of bricks

but what happens as the world of bricks and mortar are joined by an incredibly

and mortar are joined by an incredibly

and mortar are joined by an incredibly robust digital world and you can travel

robust digital world and you can travel

robust digital world and you can travel that distance with just one click my

that distance with just one click my

that distance with just one click my sons were five and eight when the

sons were five and eight when the

sons were five and eight when the pokemons go crazy hit this augmented

pokemons go crazy hit this augmented

pokemons go crazy hit this augmented reality game meant that we were looking

reality game meant that we were looking

reality game meant that we were looking through my phone’s camera for little

through my phone’s camera for little

through my phone’s camera for little digital creatures and it meant that

digital creatures and it meant that

digital creatures and it meant that every family outing was to a location

every family outing was to a location

every family outing was to a location where we were likely to find pokemons

where we were likely to find pokemons

where we were likely to find pokemons now lots of people were experiencing

now lots of people were experiencing

now lots of people were experiencing this but for me when I looked through

this but for me when I looked through

this but for me when I looked through the phone and I saw that digital

the phone and I saw that digital

the phone and I saw that digital creature sitting in a place where it

creature sitting in a place where it

creature sitting in a place where it wasn’t and then I looked around at the

wasn’t and then I looked around at the

wasn’t and then I looked around at the broad cultural acceptance of that as

broad cultural acceptance of that as

broad cultural acceptance of that as reality my world was shaken my

reality my world was shaken my

reality my world was shaken my background is behavioral strategy the

background is behavioral strategy the

background is behavioral strategy the practice of using physical space

practice of using physical space

practice of using physical space processes policies tools to influence

processes policies tools to influence

processes policies tools to influence behavior and when I recognize that I

behavior and when I recognize that I

behavior and when I recognize that I suddenly had an entire toolkit that

suddenly had an entire toolkit that

suddenly had an entire toolkit that would allow me to customize those

would allow me to customize those

would allow me to customize those influencers i subtly saw how much power

influencers i subtly saw how much power

influencers i subtly saw how much power I had you see the historic problem with

I had you see the historic problem with

I had you see the historic problem with behavioral strategy is that while we

behavioral strategy is that while we

behavioral strategy is that while we know those influences work they work on

know those influences work they work on

know those influences work they work on a very broad basis it’s very hard to get

a very broad basis it’s very hard to get

a very broad basis it’s very hard to get specific responses so I can put a bench

specific responses so I can put a bench

specific responses so I can put a bench somewhere to encourage relaxation and

somewhere to encourage relaxation and

somewhere to encourage relaxation and reflection but it’s going to speak to

reflection but it’s going to speak to

reflection but it’s going to speak to one demographic and not another what

one demographic and not another what

one demographic and not another what digital tools allow me to do is to

digital tools allow me to do is to

digital tools allow me to do is to create an experience that is unique to

create an experience that is unique to

create an experience that is unique to you in that moment and place I can use

you in that moment and place I can use

you in that moment and place I can use artificial intelligence to wreck

artificial intelligence to wreck

artificial intelligence to wreck your facial expression and protect your

your facial expression and protect your

your facial expression and protect your mood with amazing accuracy and with that

mood with amazing accuracy and with that

mood with amazing accuracy and with that knowledge I can create a digital event

knowledge I can create a digital event

knowledge I can create a digital event visual audio sensory that will have a

visual audio sensory that will have a

visual audio sensory that will have a much greater influence on your behavior

much greater influence on your behavior

much greater influence on your behavior I can tap into your calendar and give

I can tap into your calendar and give

I can tap into your calendar and give you a different experience on your way

you a different experience on your way

you a different experience on your way from gym to work than work to gym I can

from gym to work than work to gym I can

from gym to work than work to gym I can take the same physical meeting room and

take the same physical meeting room and

take the same physical meeting room and I can put one kind of digital object in

I can put one kind of digital object in

I can put one kind of digital object in for a two person meeting and another

for a two person meeting and another

for a two person meeting and another kind for a four person meeting and I can

kind for a four person meeting and I can

kind for a four person meeting and I can watch your reaction to both that digital

watch your reaction to both that digital

watch your reaction to both that digital object and the other people in the room

object and the other people in the room

object and the other people in the room and I can begin to guide not only your

and I can begin to guide not only your

and I can begin to guide not only your individual behavior but also

individual behavior but also

individual behavior but also interpersonal behavior the physical and

interpersonal behavior the physical and

interpersonal behavior the physical and digital environments are becoming one

digital environments are becoming one

digital environments are becoming one smart products become Mart cities user

smart products become Mart cities user

smart products become Mart cities user experience as a discipline is expanding

experience as a discipline is expanding

experience as a discipline is expanding as designers

as designers

as designers explore interaction beyond and between

explore interaction beyond and between

explore interaction beyond and between objects I can design environments that

objects I can design environments that

objects I can design environments that will influence your behavior but with

will influence your behavior but with

will influence your behavior but with artificial intelligence and augmented

artificial intelligence and augmented

artificial intelligence and augmented reality I can tailor those environments

reality I can tailor those environments

reality I can tailor those environments to who you are in that specific moment I

to who you are in that specific moment I

to who you are in that specific moment I can guide your behavior at a level that

can guide your behavior at a level that

can guide your behavior at a level that begins to approach complete control I

okay you do have some ability to

okay you do have some ability to participate if you choose to the

participate if you choose to the

participate if you choose to the research is very clear that environments

research is very clear that environments

research is very clear that environments influence behavior but for the most part

influence behavior but for the most part

influence behavior but for the most part we get to choose our environments

we get to choose our environments

we get to choose our environments Winston Churchill said it best when he

Winston Churchill said it best when he

Winston Churchill said it best when he said we shape our buildings and

said we shape our buildings and

said we shape our buildings and thereafter they shape us if we can get

thereafter they shape us if we can get

thereafter they shape us if we can get clear about the lives we want to live

clear about the lives we want to live

clear about the lives we want to live and the environments that are likely and

and the environments that are likely and

and the environments that are likely and the they experience that are likely to

the they experience that are likely to

the they experience that are likely to fill those lives then we can begin to

fill those lives then we can begin to

fill those lives then we can begin to create those lives for ourselves just as

create those lives for ourselves just as

create those lives for ourselves just as going to the grocery store with a list

going to the grocery store with a list

going to the grocery store with a list lessens the power of those influencers

lessens the power of those influencers

lessens the power of those influencers so if you can have a clearer vision you

so if you can have a clearer vision you

so if you can have a clearer vision you become a co-designer of the behavioural

become a co-designer of the behavioural

become a co-designer of the behavioural influencers in your life now we can

influencers in your life now we can

influencers in your life now we can shape our digital environments much the

shape our digital environments much the

shape our digital environments much the way we might shape our physical

way we might shape our physical

way we might shape our physical environments we can choose the

environments we can choose the

environments we can choose the technologies that will enable us to live

technologies that will enable us to live

technologies that will enable us to live the lives we want we can use those

the lives we want we can use those

the lives we want we can use those technologies in ways that allow us to

technologies in ways that allow us to

technologies in ways that allow us to experience the experiences that will

experience the experiences that will

experience the experiences that will fill those lives this is a mock-up of

fill those lives this is a mock-up of

fill those lives this is a mock-up of what is in essence an artificial reality

what is in essence an artificial reality

what is in essence an artificial reality oh sorry augmented reality wallpaper we

oh sorry augmented reality wallpaper we

oh sorry augmented reality wallpaper we know that humans experience reduced

know that humans experience reduced

know that humans experience reduced stress with views of nature whether

stress with views of nature whether

stress with views of nature whether those views are real or photographs and

those views are real or photographs and

those views are real or photographs and you might choose when you’re having a

you might choose when you’re having a

you might choose when you’re having a particularly stressful day in the office

particularly stressful day in the office

particularly stressful day in the office to replace the corporate wallpaper with

to replace the corporate wallpaper with

to replace the corporate wallpaper with a picture of a beach or a forest

a picture of a beach or a forest

a picture of a beach or a forest organizations can work much the same way

organizations can work much the same way

organizations can work much the same way if they’re clear about the outcomes and

if they’re clear about the outcomes and

if they’re clear about the outcomes and the behaviors likely to lead to those

the behaviors likely to lead to those

the behaviors likely to lead to those outcomes then they can create

outcomes then they can create

outcomes then they can create environments that will empower their

environments that will empower their

environments that will empower their teams

teams

teams at Mya design we have a series of round

at Mya design we have a series of round

at Mya design we have a series of round rooms and when the panels are closed we

rooms and when the panels are closed we

rooms and when the panels are closed we are completely surrounded 360 degrees

are completely surrounded 360 degrees

are completely surrounded 360 degrees with whiteboards and what that does is

with whiteboards and what that does is

with whiteboards and what that does is tap into the exponentially larger human

tap into the exponentially larger human

tap into the exponentially larger human capacity for spatial memory which

capacity for spatial memory which

capacity for spatial memory which increases our ability to collaborate and

increases our ability to collaborate and

increases our ability to collaborate and delivers an outcome of a higher level of

delivers an outcome of a higher level of

delivers an outcome of a higher level of innovation for us in our clients so with

innovation for us in our clients so with

innovation for us in our clients so with individuals and with organizations if we

individuals and with organizations if we

individuals and with organizations if we can be clear about what we want we are

can be clear about what we want we are

can be clear about what we want we are more likely to be able to create the

more likely to be able to create the

more likely to be able to create the environments that deliver those outcomes

now the human habit that interferes with

now the human habit that interferes with that way of thinking as logical as it is

that way of thinking as logical as it is

that way of thinking as logical as it is is that we love our objects we are on

is that we love our objects we are on

is that we love our objects we are on Pinterest collecting pictures of doors

Pinterest collecting pictures of doors

Pinterest collecting pictures of doors and bathrooms and tables and we’re

and bathrooms and tables and we’re

and bathrooms and tables and we’re buying that really cool new smart

buying that really cool new smart

buying that really cool new smart thermostat microwave but the problem is

thermostat microwave but the problem is

thermostat microwave but the problem is that objects come with experiences and

that objects come with experiences and

that objects come with experiences and when you choose the objects first you

when you choose the objects first you

when you choose the objects first you get the experience that it comes with

get the experience that it comes with

get the experience that it comes with and then you get the life you get in

and then you get the life you get in

and then you get the life you get in order for us to remain human in our

order for us to remain human in our

order for us to remain human in our increasingly technological society we

increasingly technological society we

increasingly technological society we need to flip this we need to start by

need to flip this we need to start by

need to flip this we need to start by choosing the outcome and then once we

choosing the outcome and then once we

choosing the outcome and then once we know what the outcome is that we want

know what the outcome is that we want

know what the outcome is that we want then we can design the experiences that

then we can design the experiences that

then we can design the experiences that are likely to deliver those outcomes and

are likely to deliver those outcomes and

are likely to deliver those outcomes and finally with that clarity we can

finally with that clarity we can

finally with that clarity we can assemble the objects now there’s a

assemble the objects now there’s a

assemble the objects now there’s a reason that we tend to focus on objects

reason that we tend to focus on objects

reason that we tend to focus on objects figuring out an outcome is much much

figuring out an outcome is much much

figuring out an outcome is much much harder work but we have to do the good

harder work but we have to do the good

harder work but we have to do the good work of understanding ourselves and our

work of understanding ourselves and our

work of understanding ourselves and our hearts desires in order to create the

hearts desires in order to create the

hearts desires in order to create the experiences

experiences

experiences and the environments that went in will

and the environments that went in will

and the environments that went in will enable that we have to choose everyday

enable that we have to choose everyday

enable that we have to choose everyday the objects and spaces physical and

the objects and spaces physical and

the objects and spaces physical and digital that combine to create the

digital that combine to create the

digital that combine to create the environments that will influence the

environments that will influence the

environments that will influence the behaviors that will enable the

behaviors that will enable the

behaviors that will enable the experiences that will deliver to us the

experiences that will deliver to us the

experiences that will deliver to us the life that we want to live in today’s age

life that we want to live in today’s age

life that we want to live in today’s age the onus is on us humans to level up to

the onus is on us humans to level up to

the onus is on us humans to level up to correspondingly level up our

correspondingly level up our

correspondingly level up our intelligence and our self-awareness if

intelligence and our self-awareness if

intelligence and our self-awareness if we don’t do the work of fully

we don’t do the work of fully

we don’t do the work of fully understanding ourselves our desires our

understanding ourselves our desires our

understanding ourselves our desires our motivators and our triggers more than

motivators and our triggers more than

motivators and our triggers more than ever we risk living a life that has been

ever we risk living a life that has been

ever we risk living a life that has been determined for us not by us imagine a

determined for us not by us imagine a

determined for us not by us imagine a world where the environment adapts

world where the environment adapts

world where the environment adapts constantly to who you are at any given

constantly to who you are at any given

constantly to who you are at any given time in place imagine the power of

time in place imagine the power of

time in place imagine the power of designers or the artificial intelligence

designers or the artificial intelligence

designers or the artificial intelligence that is their proxy stand-in to

that is their proxy stand-in to

that is their proxy stand-in to influence your choices

influence your choices

influence your choices the only question left is which will it

the only question left is which will it

the only question left is which will it be

be

be your behavior driven automatically by

your behavior driven automatically by

your behavior driven automatically by your environment or by your own choices

your environment or by your own choices

your environment or by your own choices thank you

thank you

thank you [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]