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Tristan Harris
43quotes
Full Name and Common Aliases
Tristan Harris is a well-known American computer scientist and former Design Ethicist at Google.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on August 26, 1982, there is no available information regarding his passing date.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Harris's nationality is American, and he has worked as a computer scientist and design ethicist. He is currently the Executive Director of the Center for Humane Technology (CHT) and has been involved in various projects to promote responsible technology development.
Early Life and Background
Growing up in California, Harris was exposed to computers at an early age. His interest in computer science led him to attend Stanford University, where he earned his Bachelor's degree in Symbolic Systems. Later, he went on to earn his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley.
Major Accomplishments
Harris's work has focused on designing and developing technology that prioritizes human well-being over profit. He was a key figure in the development of Google's "20% time" policy, which allowed employees to devote 20% of their working hours to side projects. This initiative led to several successful products, including Gmail and Google Maps.
Notable Works or Actions
As a Design Ethicist at Google, Harris worked closely with the company's designers and engineers to create technology that aligns with human values. He was instrumental in developing the "Time Well Spent" movement, which aims to reduce the negative effects of social media on society. In 2018, he co-founded the Center for Humane Technology (CHT), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting responsible technology development.
Impact and Legacy
Harris's work has had a significant impact on the tech industry. His efforts have led to changes in Google's policies and practices, such as the introduction of features that help users manage their screen time and reduce exposure to manipulative content. The Center for Humane Technology has also partnered with several major tech companies to promote humane design principles.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Tristan Harris is widely quoted and remembered due to his influential work in the field of technology ethics. He has spoken at numerous conferences, including the World Economic Forum and SXSW, about the need for responsible technology development and the importance of prioritizing human well-being over profit. His TED Talk "How Technology Is Manipulating You" has been viewed millions of times and has helped raise awareness about the potential negative effects of social media on society.
Harris's commitment to promoting humane design principles and his efforts to hold tech companies accountable for their impact on society have made him a respected figure in the industry. His work continues to inspire change and drive conversations about the role of technology in shaping our world.
Quotes by Tristan Harris
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While nations protect their physical borders, tech platforms leave digital borders wide open.
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If, at any moment, reality gets dull or boring, our phone offers something more pleasurable, more productive and even more educational than whatever reality gives us.
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If we really wanted to have a reorientation of the tech industry toward what's best for people, then we would ask the second question, which is, what would be the most time well spent for the thing that people are trying to get out of that situation?
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Ergonomics is about designing for failure modes and extremes: how things break under repetition, stress or other limits. And the goal of ergonomic designis to create an alignment between the user's limits, the thing you're designing, and how people will ideally use that thing.
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There's nothing in your life or in our collective problems that does not require our ability to put our attention where we care about. At the end of our lives, all we have is our attention and our time.
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You're either on, and you're connected and distracted all the time, or you're off, but then you're wondering, am I missing something important? In other words, you're either distracted or you have fear of missing out.
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Most notifications you get are because a machine is trying to get your attention. Those notifications aren't built to help you live your life. They're built to get your attention.
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For every design goal you have, you have to have a corresponding measurement to know how you're doing - a way of measuring success.
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If one app or news site or friend gets your attention, that means something or someone else loses it. It comes out of our sleep, our time with family or our reflective time with ourselves.
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Yes, online privacy is a real problem that needs to be addressed. But even the best privacy laws are only as effective as our Paleolithic emotions are resistant to the seductions of technology.
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