Technology, in the most general sense of the word, is a massive, all-encompassing force that is wholly integrated into today’s society. I’m rarely ever without my cell phone, computer, and headphones while on campus. Prior to traveling to Seattle with PLA, I hadn’t thought much about the industry behind technology or the people who have committed their entire lives to advancing our society in technological ways. This industry’s presence is dominating in Seattle; it makes it feel like you’d be without a place if you lived in Seattle and did something other than tech.

We visited a technology-consulting firm while in Seattle called Avanade, which made for a very interesting experience. It was only my second time at a consulting firm but it confirmed that consulting is not in my future plans. Avanade’s mission was very specific: to provide innovative ideas to tech giants. They are the brainchild of Microsoft and therefore only use Microsoft platforms in their work.

I really struggled to see the broader, global impact of Avanade’s work. A lot of their “solutions” seemed to be for problems that don’t really exist. For example, they developed software so company employees can talk to a robot to swap their work shifts with other employees. The practical, feedback-oriented person in me felt off-put by this type of technology. Why can’t people just talk to each other in person to figure out things like switching work hours? Where’s the genuine human connection in talking to a robot? I’m afraid that by losing the need to do little daily things like talk to colleagues or go to the grocery store (because our groceries are about to be ordered for us, thanks Amazon!), we’ll lose our ability to communicate effectively and engage with others in a meaningful way.

On the other hand, I thought the type of technology employed at Blue Origin was groundbreaking and pretty darn cool. This aerospace start-up’s goal is to commercially take people to the moon by 2018, and they are well on their way to achieving that goal. As wild as it sounds, I think space is the new frontier. The day and age where we need to offload a lot of our production (and frankly, waste) to the moon is closer than we think. The representatives and Penn State alumni from Blue Origin who spoke to us said that they expect to travel to space in their lifetimes. That’s incredible! The strides we have made in this part of the tech industry since we first put people on the moon in 1969 showcases amazing successes in science.

While technology is not my forte or industry of choice, spring break in Seattle illustrated its significance and impact on all aspects of global life. As an aspiring health professional, I can see how technology both creates and solves public health problems. As I move forward, I’m inspired to think more about how technology can be a solution to our nation’s most pressing health problems. Thank you, as always, to Ed, Helen, and the PLA staff for another fantastic learning experience!