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We Are Already Living in the Future by@e.p.m.vermeulen
We Are Already Living in the Future
Originally published by Erik P.M. Vermeulen on September 10th 2017 7,410 reads
@e.p.m.vermeulenErik P.M. Vermeulen
Business & finance professor, digital lawyer, restaurant owner, board member & traveler.
Why Everyone Must Understand the Digital Age Now
It was an interesting and exciting start of the academic year.
I gave my class on "Creative Thinking in a Digital Age" to a group of new students. I also spoke to a group of lawyers about the impact of technology on the legal industry and presented to IT auditors on "living with intelligent machines".
The common thread linking these talks was the "exponential growth of new technology" and how it is changing the world.
It is always inspiring for me to share insights about the impact of disruptive innovation with a broader audience. I genuinely believe in teaching as an exercise in "co-creation".
Last week, one issue became very clear to me:
When we talk about new technology, we all tend to focus on how it will change the world (in the future).
For instance, we try to predict the impact of artificial intelligence, robots and blockchain technology on our lives. But, in doing so, we often neglect how technology has already changed the world.
The "gap" between the "world as we know it" and the "digital world" is rapidly closing. All of us are — to some extent — "Digital Natives".
We can no longer think and act using traditional models and concepts.
We can no longer rely on traditional authorities.
We should pay more attention to understanding how the future is already here. Yet, many of the changes that have already occurred are non-obvious and many people may not have even noticed them.
What Defines Our Society Today?
Here are four "non-obvious" ways that digital technology has already changed the world.
More could be added, but these are the things that affect my work and life. All of them redefine and automate "trust", "confidence", and "quality".
# The Disruption of "Brands"
"Brands" have always been important in determining consumer choice.
The rationale is simple. Brands are essential in a highly competitive and visual led market place. The power of a brand is determined by two factors: how a product or service performs, but also what it stands for.
An established brand signals quality and superiority to consumers. Brands have authority and that authority motivates consumers. A brand creates trust and builds loyalty.
And yet, in recent years, the percentage of consumers that are attached to brands has declined significantly. This is a key finding of market research by "Digital Intelligence" firm L2 and has been discussed by its founder, Scott Galloway.
Today's consumers are much less interested in brands and are looking at what a product or service can do for them, rather than signals of "trust" and "quality".
The ingredients and benefits of a product are the new unique selling points. People seem to value convenience and choice more than brand names.
Why has this change occurred?
What creates trust in a product or service in a "post-brand" world?
How do we ensure that we are getting quality and superiority?
The short answer to all of these questions is "technology". Software and algorithms to be more precise.
On Airbnb or Amazon, for example, we rely on the "wisdom of the crowd" — as established via an online platform and user reviews — to help us make our decisions. A combination of software rating algorithms and consumer reviews have become more important than brand loyalty in establishing trust and shaping our consumer choice.
We have "automated" trust, confidence and quality. New technologies, such as artificial intelligence, sensors and blockchain, will only further accelerate this automation process.
# The Disruption of "Hierarchies"
My grandparents worked at a large multinational company for their entire working lives. They trusted, relied on and were ultimately dependent on their "superiors".
In one sense, there was no other choice. The "bosses" had the experience, knowledge and resources to act in the "best interests" of the company and its workers. Their acquired practical wisdom was crucial to the growth and success of the company. This is why companies were organized as static hierarchies. Such an organizational structure made sense in a world of information asymmetries and closed, stable markets.
Obviously, this has changed. New technologies and the open information culture that have been created means that everybody within an organization or business has become much "smarter". It is no longer necessary to rely on seniority anymore when making decisions. In fact, it can even be (and is often) counter-productive.
Yet, many organizations are still organized as hierarchies.
In a business context, this creates problems. It is no surprise that such companies find it increasingly difficult to compete against more agile businesses that have fully embraced the "flatter" and more open logic of a digital world.
These newer companies have adopted a "best-idea-wins" culture that is structured around co-creation rather than seniority.
By creating teams where people with different backgrounds and expertise are working "cheek-by-jowl", "out-of-the-box" solutions to business challenges are more easily identified.
And, there are many other examples. Consider the changed relationship between "employer-employee", "teacher-student", and "doctor-patient". All of these relationships have already become less hierarchical in a digital world.
The Alliance: Managing Talent in the Networked Age
A new framework for managing today's employees.www.theallianceframework.com
# The Disruption of "Best Practice"
In order to build trust, organizations — again, think business, government, education, etc. — have often relied on compliance with "best practice" as a way to build trust and improve confidence.
After all, all organizations are exposed to the risk of inefficiencies, mistakes or — in a worst case — corruption and fraud. Compliance with "ready-made" solutions that a community of experts have certified as "best" seems a sensible way to mitigate these risks.
And, of course, such "off-the-shelf" solutions were never set in stone. It has always been widely acknowledged that a "one-size-fits-all" approach rarely works and that some deviation from "best practice" is both possible and prudent.
Nevertheless, in the past, most organizations tended to take a conservative approach to "best practice", strictly complying with the recommended principles, practices and procedures. Trust, confidence and belief in quality were ensured by the "authority" of the institutions that had identified "best practice".
As a result, over time, such recommendations have become more and more "sophisticated". Recent financial crises and other economic shocks have only added to the complexity.
However, in a digital age, everything (products, services, business models, markets etc.) are constantly being disrupted as a result of technological change.
The "best practice" of yesterday may not work tomorrow, or even today.
In a fast-changing environment, "best practice" can no longer be captured by static solutions derived from some "all-knowing" authorities. We live in a world where complying with "best practice" from the past is no guarantee of future success.
Again, new technology is both a cause of this change and the source of a solution. For instance, social media and other technologies make it possible to replace ready-made "best practice" with individualized and personalized stories about an organization and its values and goals.
I'm convinced that a "personalized" narrative and connecting that story with other available information (financial, non-financial) generates more trust and confidence than "checking some boxes" and providing "boilerplate" information.
# The Disruption of "Science"
In a world where information and data were not widely available, scientific studies were necessary to provide knowledge about complex issues to the wider world.
Ordinary people, as well as organizations, had to rely on these studies to make sense of the world and make well-considered decisions. Scientific studies offered objective truth and an indisputable perspective. The production of such knowledge was how I saw my role as a professor.
Science enjoyed a monopoly as a source of authoritative knowledge.
And yet, a paradox of scientific and technological development is that it does not provide greater certainty, but merely seems to create a heightened sense of uncertainty and insecurity. The digital world is a world of risk — of scientifically identifiable and measurable danger — but, more significantly, it is also a world of uncertainty, a world where we know there are many things that we don't know.
Again though, technology plays a crucial role in providing alternative solutions.
Social media and communication technology have made it easy to share our experiences, feelings and ideas. We are generally more interested in the "direct" testimonies, experiences and advice of different stakeholders themselves than in the objective and general conclusions of a report.
We trust and rely more and more on publishing and sharing platforms where it is possible to have an intelligent debate and discussion with an interested and knowledgeable audience.
These testimonials and stories (and, again, this relates to the wisdom of the crowd) often provide a clearer and more trustworthy view than an impersonal, objectivized and generalized data analysis. Personal stories are superior in helping make choices (in life and work).
In a digital age, trust and quality are no longer guaranteed by "old world" concepts, such as brands, best practice, hierarchy and even, to some degree, science.
Technology has made everyone smarter. It has made access to first-hand testimony much easier, allowing us to rely on the "wisdom of the crowd" to tap into the knowledge, experience and expertise of other people.
The impact has been significant and it affects every aspect of how we live and work.
In our discussions, we focus a lot on new technologies, such as AI, robotics, sensors, blockchain technology and the Internet of Things. The impact of these technologies will be significant. There can be no doubt about that.
And yet, we must realize that the transition to a flatter world with less intermediaries, hierarchy and authority has already occurred. The future is here now and mapping the contours of this new world is vital.
Thank you for reading! Please click the 👏 (which can be clicked as many times as you want) below, or leave a comment.
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Matrix metalloproteinase-25 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the MMP25 gene.

Proteins of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family are involved in the breakdown of extracellular matrix in normal physiological processes, such as embryonic development, reproduction, and tissue remodeling, as well as in disease processes, such as arthritis and metastasis. Most MMPs are secreted as inactive proproteins which are activated when cleaved by extracellular proteinases. However, the protein encoded by this gene is a member of the membrane-type MMP (MT-MMP) subfamily, attached to the plasma membrane via a glycosylphosphatidyl inositol anchor. In response to bacterial infection or inflammation, the encoded protein is thought to inactivate alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor, a major tissue protectant against proteolytic enzymes released by activated neutrophils, facilitating the transendothelial migration of neutrophils to inflammatory sites. The encoded protein may also play a role in tumor invasion and metastasis through activation of MMP2. The gene has previously been referred to as MMP20 but has been renamed MMP25.

References

Further reading

External links
 The MEROPS online database for peptidases and their inhibitors: M10.024

Matrix metalloproteinases

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Christmas is next week and I'm pretty excited. This was my first holiday season in I don't know how long that I only worked one job. Financially, it was difficult for me. I'm so use to buying people the gifts I want and having money left over for me. That wasn't the case. I've did all my shopping, paid all my bills, and only have money left over for food and travel (to work, etc.). The thought of this honestly made me quite sad at first. Then I saw the bigger picture. Last year I worked 60 hours a week and had school. I got extremely sick to the point that I couldn't physically make it into work. I realized then that my health was more important than some gifts.
The gift situation wasn't the only thing difficult about this year for me. This was the first year without my grandfather. I'd always looked forward to buying him something, giving it to him, and watching his face light up with joy. He liked everything I bought him and even bigger than that, he appreciated anything someone did for him. He was one of the most humble people I knew. Just talking about him now makes me emotional. Even though for the last few month he wasn't fully responsive, the energy around the house was still different. I'm still use to getting ready for work and going to talk to him before I walk out the door. Even though he didn't talk back, I felt his energy. With him not here I notice my grandmother's mood being quite different too. The other day she told me about the holiday parties they thrown for years. She finished the story telling me how much she missed him. It's not easy for me to see her sad, but I couldn't imagine how it must feel to lose your husband of 54 years.
My grandmother and I have been really close this past month. We been helping each other get through this tough holiday season. From shopping together, to decorating and even going out to eat together. Most importantly, we pray together. We make sure that we both stay grounded and stress free. Things are easier with a team. Without her, I don't know how I would have gotten through this month. I admire her strength. I admire her intelligence and I admire her ability to be honest with herself. She's not afraid of telling you how she feels. She told me that if I'm ever hurting inside that I NEED to express it no matter what. She always believed that most people die because they're going through things physically and emotionally by themselves without getting help. I agree. I know from personal experience that keeping stuff inside can be draining. She watched some of her close friends pass with secrets. Whether it was relationship issues or sickness.
Toxic relationships are one of the hardest things to not only deal with, but to overcome. A lot of toxic relationships start early with your parents. Whether it's abuse (both mentally and physically), lack of support, or just overall neglect we tend to be effected by this in a big way. When I was growing up, I had a pretty decent relationship with my parents. My dad and I did clash for a long time. We didn't see eye to eye on a lot, mainly because I was his only daughter and he was really strict on me. I often felt lonely because I couldn't do things with my friends. On top of that, I was often neglected. Both my brothers played sports, so they often were away. My grandparents, who I stayed with, worked a lot. I often sat in my room crying because I didn't have anymore. I was two completely different people when I was at school and at home. When I was at school, I was this energetic fun human being with a lot of friends to talk and hang out with, but at home, I was this depressed teenager isolated in her room writing and often crying to herself. Once I got the confidence to do so, I had a discussion with my father. It was difficult at first, but once he herd what I had to say and really thought about it he understood and gave me more freedom.
A lot of times it's not that easy to resolve. Most toxic people in your life has to be cut loose. This is hard for most of us because we often love these people and overall care for that person. Romantic relationships, for example, are hard to let go especially when the feelings for that person is strong. I was in a relationship where, for years, we would just argue and break up. It was draining. I often felt like we were holding each other back because we weren't good for each other. The fighting messed with me a lot mentally and sometimes even physically. My weight would fluctuate, my attitude would be bad, my thought process was often negative, and I often got sick. It was draining and I knew I couldn't stay but I loved him. I didn't want to hurt him even if that meant that I would be unhappy. When I did finally let go I had two completely different feeling. On one hard I felt liberated and free to be myself. On the other hand, I felt like a horrible person who hurt someone I once loved unconditionally.
I can't sit here and tell you that once you cut off a love one that you'll feel better because that's not true. It's going to hurt at first. You're going to feel bad and I won't be surprise if you back track a couple of times. This is normal, but once you eliminate that negative energy I can say that the future is way brighter. A lot of these people don't support your dreams or hold you back from overall progression. When you eliminate that wall, you can do what you feel without that pressure. I remember seeing a post on Twitter and a guy said, "Why is it that females wait until she leaves a man to better her life?" It's not that someone waits to leave their partner to make moves, sometimes that other person is holding you back. Remember this, if someone in your like isn't supporting your dreams or being a team player overall, you should probably stay away from that person. It's hard to do anything without the proper support. Don't let anyone make you feel self-conscious about the moves you make, but also don't isolate yourself without reasoning. If you care for someone talk to them about your concern before cutting them ff. give them a chance to understand. #thisiswhatdepressionlookslike.
Being there for someone is something that we often do but don't realize how important that is. A lot of people say the reason why they're depressed is because they don't really have anyone to talk to about their issues, so they're forced to isolate their self from society. A lot of times we go through things and require a helping hand ,but we choose not to tell anyone about it because we don't want to bother them or we don't want to seem like we're begging for something. This is a problem.
I've always been that kind of person that never wanted to ask people for any type of help. I would literally have zero dollars in my account and need to pay a bill ,but i'll do anything to figure out how I'm going to pay it on my own. I've often isolated myself from people so they wouldn't know that I need any type of help. This has led me to some of my darkest days, because sometimes I just needed an ear to listen to what I was going through. Me not allowing someone in my world made me suffer. You're not helping anyone by not letting them know what you're going through our what you need because your problem could be solved, but you don't allow it to be by holding it in. You're actually hurting yourself more by holding stuff in.