The document discusses how social interaction may change within 10 years given advances in technology. It argues that while technology will enable greater global connection and new ways of communicating over distance, there are also risks to human relationships and daily life. Increased use of virtual tools and automation could make in-person interaction and non-verbal communication less important. However, balancing both technology and human contact will be important for healthy social interaction and development in the future.

1. IE APPLICATION
ESSAY
How do you imagine social interaction within
10 years, taking into consideration the impact
of technology on human relations?
STEFANO CRACCO

2. Global connection
I want to define how a person is going to interact with other
human beings in the future: analyzing all the aspects that are
relevant, one may create a vision of the new and changing world.
I suppose every country in the world will be constantly connected
to a network that will go beyond all borders: all citizens will be
An important role will certainly be played by the
technology in several fields and I would like to outline how
this will impact social relations. It is relevant to consider
both positive and negative consequences.
incorporated into a developed and cohesive system of
communication.

3. Social media and new channels
Starting with the improvements made in the
development of social apps, it is clear that there will be
revolutionary devices enabling people from all over the
world to connect up. No more barriers will slow down
the possibility of getting in touch.
Companies will design new ways of communicating:
being in different continents will not be a problem,
when it comes to using new approaches to interact.
For example, it will be possible to speak with a
holographic person.

4. Information and communication technology
ICT offers to companies the chance
to activate wide networks: it is
possible to get up-to-date
knowledge. Moreover, companies
could go beyond the traditional
trade-off between vertical
integration and outsourcing because
some technologies are going to be
really interactive.
Virtual environments, that are
internet-based, are going to
reduce costs because of
outsourcing more activities:
this is the new trend but only
companies with considerable
capacity will achieve
unimaginable aims.
This open innovation may be implemented and for a business function like R&D this could make the
connection between people from different backgrounds, working together on a common platform.

5. Transport services
Even though recent innovation has made huge steps forward, in
the coming years we will witness a new age of transportation. In
few hours, a dad could come back home to his family even if he
works very far away or in another country.
The transport speed will be allowed by new infrastructures
and machines. These improvements will drastically change
the current concept of work: national borders will be no
limit.
All these developments are going to redefine the global vision of
every job and companies will gain several benefits with mobile
workers deployed in every strategic point.

6. New opportunities for new jobs
Throughout history, some jobs have disappeared and new jobs have taken their place. Thanks to different and
innovative channels of communication, there will be new kinds of employees.
Some jobs are currently under threat as ‘progress’ sidelines their expertise.
Other jobs were unknown years ago.
The future holds, as yet, unheard-of job roles within IT, alternative energy and global
commerce.

7. Taking strategic decisions
Communications is not only a way to express a point of view but it is also the base on which to choose a
strategic plan.
Participative decision-making is the extent to which employers allow or encourage employees to share or
participate in organizational decision-making.
If this process were carried out coordinating people who work well together, then business revenue would
rise exponentially.

8. Human relationships
Increasingly, we find our day-to-day lives without
the required face-to-face contact. Somehow, all this
technology is making our ‘human’ relationships
more shallow and less meaningful.
From a more humanistic view, it is clear that even the best
technology has its downsides: it is necessary not to forget
that personal interaction is essential for our daily routine.
Man is not made to live uniquely with a machine.

9. Daily lifestyle
Daily life will be completely different because many actions
which are presently performed by interacting with another
person, will be carried out by sophisticated software.
There will be no one who prepares coffee in the morning
because it will already have been made by a machine, no one
who goes for the gift for their son because it has already been
ordered via phone, and no one who talks to you while you take
a taxi because the car will be driven automatically.

10. Alternative trends
Innovation is not always synonymous of
improvement: some people will believe that a
better life condition is possible just with less
technology and more human interaction.
Relationships are based on a continuous
exchange of ideas and thoughts: the most
relevant part of the communication is the
body language and this could not be done
in front of an electronic device.

11. Facial expressions
It often happens that people do not exactly explain what they
want to say: it is necessary to pay attention to every single
movement of every facial muscle.
The opportunity to express feelings through the body will be
drastically reduced, you will lose a significant and essential part of
communication. This will determine a change in social life.

12. Virtual education
Universities and schools are places where it is possible to
meet other students and create your own network of friends.
In next few years, online e-learning platforms will become
ever more dominant: students will wake up in the morning
and start the first lessons in front of a computer or a tablet.
The greatest risk is to minimize the opportunities while growing up because the character of an individual
is formed by real experiences and mistakes. On the other hand, a new world of learning will be open and
even students in a remote country will be able to study at a prestigious academic institution.

13. New generations
A "digital native" is a person who was born during or
after the general introduction of digital technology.
Thanks to interaction with digital technology from an
early age, they gain a greater comfort level using it.
Everyday, these people are used to using technology and
this is helpful to a future work experience, however
sometimes they lose the ability to establish a connection
with another individual.
A digital native is probably going to be successful because
of his previous knowledge, but it is important not to forget
that even the most able leader often has to interact with a
team for a common goal.

14. Balance
Technology could make it easier to use a device, create a global network get in touch with
different cultures and ever more applications are going to be devised in the future. The amount of
money spent every year in R&D is rising because of all the positive aspects that have been
explained in this presentation. The future, however, could not be solely based on innovation:
communication will always represent the key to interaction, and therefore, there must be
balanced progress that combines both elements.

15. Thank you