Setting the stage for the main keynote address at the
According to Maciag, the “interdependent” nature of the various parts of the insurance industry will actually drive innovation as data standards provide a means to “connect the dots” between seemingly disparate parties.
Keynote speaker Biz Stone, co-founder of the popular social networking site
Despite the obvious business success, however, Stone emphasized that, “Empathy is going to be a premium driver for success in the future.” Because Twitter enables people to spread messages very quickly through tweets and retweets, the technology provides a means for quick exchange of vital information, such as what would be needed in disaster situations like the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan, he explained.
Pointing out that Twitter has played a key role in organizing protests worldwide, and even in overthrowing governments, Stone said that, “Twitter is not a triumph of technology; it is a triumph of humanity.” He likened the spread of information via Twitter to the synchronicity of a flock of birds that “share” the same information, and thus are able to neatly avoid obstacles as they fly. “It allows the many to behave as if they are one,” he noted.
Asked about the issue of privacy in using the social networking site, Stone said that Twitter users can opt for a “protected” account that only lets specified individuals view ones tweets. He added, however, that “99% of people choose a public account,” which essentially allows anyone to see anyone else’s tweet messages. In fact, he added, the Library of Congress is currently working on archiving all of the public tweets that have passed through the system.
Stone also emphasized the value of creativity in all business ventures, and the need to allow such creative ideas to flow freely.
