A benefit of surprises is that they’re often a prod to action. It can gnaw at people to realize.....
A benefit of surprises is that they’re often a prod to action. It can gnaw at people to realize that the realities of the world don’t match their expectations for it. Some surprises help people see that the status quo needs to change. Some surprises underscore that transformation is happening already.
In this year’s annual letter, Bill and Melinda Gates highlight few things that have surprised them along their journey. Some worry us. Others inspire us. All of them are prodding us to action.
1- Africa is the youngest continent. The median age there is just 18. In North America, it is 35. And the number of young Africans is expected to rise in the decades to come.
2- Data can be sexist. Data leads to better decisions and better policies. It helps us create goals and measure progress. It enables advocacy and accountability. That’s why the missing data about women and girls’ lives is so harmful. It gets in the way of helping them make their lives better.
3- Textbooks are becoming obsolete. The standalone textbook is becoming a thing of the past. Suppose you’re taking high school algebra. Instead of just reading a chapter on solving equations, you can look at the text online, watch a super-engaging video that shows you how it’s done, and play a game that reinforces the concepts. Then you solve a few problems online, and the software creates new quiz questions to zero in on the ideas you’re not quite getting.
Emoji is thought to be the world’s fastest-growing language. It is only right that people with disabilities, as the world’s largest minority, are represented in, and able to access, culture and communication like this equally. Later this year, smartphones will have 59 new emojis representing people with disabilities. The new icons include men and women with a range of disabilities. There will be people with a white cane, with a service dog, with prosthetic limbs, using a wheelchair, and with a hearing aid. There is also an emoji of someone using sign language. There is still a long way to go for full inclusion and accurate representation of people with disabilities, but it is a big step forward to be included in the emojis.
Compiled by SG
