Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs orders human need by basic, psychological, and self fulfilment needs, with basic needs being at the bottom. Technology is a growing part of everyday life, and it is easy to relate my own technological experiences with parts of the triangle.
Beginning with basic needs, technology intersects with my day to day in the form of health monitoring, physical security and appliances. I use sleep monitoring in the form of a smart watch to record my health data. The same watch also tracks my fitness data in order for me to better plan and meet my goals. My house is secured with a smart security system, addressing the safety need. Finally, my appliances also sport smart features that adjust interior heating and cooling depending on time of day.
Looking further up the ladder, today’s technology can help me in psychological and social needs as well. Social networks such as Facebook and Twitter helps me maintain and foster my relationships and services such as Strava, LinkedIn and Canvas help me plan and realize my professional and personal goals, as well as highlight milestones.
Finally at the top of Maslow’s triangle is self-actualization. It is hard to define what self-actualization is because it can look different for everyone depending on their values and desires. For me, technology helps me in the self-actualization aspect because of the ready access to books, journals, and information on the internet that contribute to my sense of self.