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Technology and Business Problems


Why Technology excites me?

I used to think new technology excites me. Well, on the face of it, it does. But if I explore my excitement about a new technology further, I have found that this excitement is always a result of possibilities of addressing a pain point and making ‘something’ better or easier. 

I believe that ‘technology’ is useful only when used to ease a pain point. I also believe that a technological or creative solutioning breakthroughs can be useful beyond the purpose for which they are originally invented. I am against the use of technology just for the sake of it, at the same time I want to make sure my mind is open to explore unrelated problems that a technological breakthrough can solve. 

I was very excited to know about Uber’s use of technology to connect ‘drivers’ with ‘passengers’.  But for a long time I could not find a pain point which this approach can solve in context of a health insurance company. And then while working on Clinical Enterprise Information Management (EIM)  project, I found the problem where Uber’s approach can be used, resulting in BL-UBER for Hospital Readmission Reduction idea.  

And it happens other way round as well. Sometimes I have to hold on to a business problem / pain point for a long time for a technological breakthrough approach to show up. I was thinking about eliminating the need to write down personal demographic and insurance information when I visit my doctor. I did not know how to solve this before coming across whatsapp web authentication approach. Here is the idea Improving Member’s Office Visit Experience that uses the whatsapp web authentication. Watch this video to see how whatsapp web authentication works.

What’s my point: New Technology is exciting, but it is relevant only when ‘applied’ in the right context and not just for the sake of it.  
  

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