Abraham Maslow’s idea of the ‘hierarchy of needs is applicable not only to the physical world but to the digital world as well. The pyramid goes as follows [from bottom to top]; Physiological needs, Safety needs, Belongingness and love needs, Esteem needs, and finally, self-actualization. This post will break down each segment of the pyramid and attribute it to technologies that are in our daily lives.

Physiological Needs: The most base-level needs. Food, water, rest, and warmth all sit under this category. In regard to technology, an overwhelming majority of young people order food online. Rather than cook, they purchase/order prepared food or groceries over an app/website and have it delivered to their home. Water for homes is gauged electronically by smart meters, and most drinkable water is dispensed via ‘smart fridges.’ (I was a water hose child, just want to make that distinction clear. 😊) Warmth for homes is usually determined by smart thermostats, which can be adjusted via a mobile application or, in some cases, just by asking the smart thermometer. Though not widely utilized, smart beds to regulate bed temperature and enhance sleep exist and can allegedly provide greater rest to the user. (Sometimes it’s not the bed itself, I’ve seen smart sheets that are as light as regular bedding but can change temperature wirelessly!)

Safety Needs: For the home, there are a myriad of cheap security features. In the past, an expensive, large, WIRED CCTV system could be installed, and accessed on a DVR. Now, thanks to advances in digital recording, cameras are extremely cheap and versatile. At my home, we have a Ring doorbell camera, which can not only record motion but also speak with visitors remotely from a mobile app. This pairs with our smart TV, which will ‘cast’ the camera’s view onto the screen every time the doorbell is pressed, making it even easier to answer the doorbell! Our security/safety needs are met through affordable wireless cameras, which have been placed all around the house. (On a side note, our front door lock doesn’t require a key, rather it has a digital keypad!)

Belongingness and love needs: Personally, I feel this one could describe social media the best. For younger generations, they seek validation online through social platforms and outlets. As unhealthy as this may be, many find more friends and relationships online than they do in person. There are many dating apps as well that sell finding ‘true love’ and meaningful relationships. (I don’t condone this, and believe it cannot beat a relationship made in person, but it exists…)

Esteem needs: A sense of accomplishment can be found in many ways online. There are young people in this generation, (me being one of them at one point), that dedicate their lives to video games or mobile games. Spending dozens of hours a week, people master video games to be the best in a league, region, or even the world. Esteem could also be garnered by having a social media presence. Posting about achievements in sports, work, or personal endeavors can result in more kudos and congrats from an online community.

Self-Actualization: The final piece of the pyramid, self-actualization, describes one achieving their full potential. Technology can do this in a positive way (not like previously described with esteem and relationship needs…). When doing passion projects like film editing/recording, technology has assisted me through programs to help film and edit my works, making them look extremely professional. I’ve also been able to use art software to create pieces for myself and my family.