T ECHNOLOGY

ThePerilsofUsingTechnologytoSolveOther

People'sProblems

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IfoundShaneSnow’sessayonprisonreform—“HowSoylentandOculusCouldFixthePrisonSystem”—throughhate-linking.

Friendsofminehatedthepiecesomuchthatnormally-articulatepeoplewereatalossforwords.

Whatwillittaketodesignsocio-technicalsystemsthatactuallywork?ETHANZUCKERMAN JUN23,2016

Susie Cagle@susie_c

A real person thought it would be a good idea to write this and

post it on the Internet.

Susie Cagle @susie_c · Jan 30, 2016

NOPE maneatingrobot.com/96/prison-refo…

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Witharecommendationlikethat,howcouldIpassitup?Andafterreadingit,ItweetedmyastonishmenttoSusie,whotoldme,“Iwritecomics,butIdon’tknowhowtoreacttothisinawaythat’sfunny.”IrealizedthatIcouldn’tofferanappropriatereactionin140characterseither.ThemoreIthinkaboutSnow’sessay,themoreitlooksliketheoutlineforaclassonthepitfallsofsolvingsocialproblemswithtechnology,aclassI’mnowplanningonteachingthiscomingfall.

UsingSnow’sessayasajumpingoffpoint,Iwanttoconsideraproblemthat’sbeenonmymindagreatdealsincejoiningtheMITMediaLabfiveyearsago:Howdowehelpsmart,well-meaningpeopleaddresssocialproblemsinwaysthatmaketheworldbetter,notworse?

Inotherwords,isitpossibletogetbeyondbothanaïvebeliefthatthelatesttechnologywillsolvesocialproblems—andareactionthatrubbishesanyattempttooffernoveltechnicalsolutionsasinappropriate,insensitive,andmisguided?Canwefindasynthesisinwhichtechnologistslookattheirworkcriticallyandworkcloselywiththepeoplethey’retryingtohelpinordertobuildsociotechnicalsystemsthataddresshardproblems?

Obviously,Ithinkthisispossible—ifreally,reallyhard—orIwouldn’tbeteachingatanengineeringschool.Butbeforeconsideringhowweovercomeanaïvefaithintechnology,let’sexamineSnow’ssuggestion.It’satextbookexampleofasolutionthat’stechnicallysophisticated,simpletounderstand,anddangerouslywrong.

***

Thoughhemaybebestknownasco-founderofthecontent-marketingplatform“Contently,”ShaneSnowdescribeshimselfasa“journalist,geekandbest-sellingauthor.”ThatlastbitcomesfromhisbookSmartcuts:HowHackers,Innovators,andIconsAccelerateSuccess,whichoffersinsightsonhow“innovatorsandicons”can“rethinkconvention”andbreak“rulesthatarenotrules.”

298 2:21 PM – Jan 30, 2016

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ThatbackgroundmayhelpreadersunderstandwhereSnowiscomingfrom.Hisblogisfilledwithplainspokenandoftenentertainingexplanationsofcomplexsystemsfollowedbyapparentlystraightforwardconclusions—evidently,burningcoalandnaturalgastogenerateelectricityisapooridea,sooilcompaniesshouldbeinvestinginsolarenergy.Fairenough.

Someoftheseexplorationsaremoresuccessfulthanothers.InSnow’sessayaboutprisonreform,heidentifiesviolence,andparticularlyprisonrape,asthekeyproblemtobesolved,andoffersaremedythathebelieveswillleadtocostsavingsfortaxpayersaswell:allprisonersshouldbeincarceratedinsolitaryconfinement,fedonlySoylentmealreplacementdrinkthroughslotsinthewall,andallinterpersonalinteractionandrehabilitativeserviceswillbeprovidedinSecondLifeusingtheOculusRiftvirtualrealitysystem.Snow’ssystemeliminatesmanyfeaturesofprisonlife—“cellblocks,prisonyards,prisongyms,physicalinteractionswithotherprisoners,andsoon.”That’sbydesign,heexplains.“Thoseareallcurrentconventionsinprisons,buthistoryisclear:innovationhappenswhenwerethinkconventionsandapplyalternativelearningortechnologytooldproblems.”

AnearlycluethatSnow’srethinkingisproblematicisthathisproposedsolutionlooksalotlike“administrativesegregation,”atechniqueusedinprisonstoseparateprisonerswhomightbeviolentordisruptivefromthegeneralpopulationbykeepingtheminsolitaryconfinement23hoursaday.Themainproblemwithadministrativesegregationorwithwhat’sknownastheSHU(the“securehousingunit”insupermaxprisons)isthatinmatestendtoexperienceseriousmentalhealthproblemsconnectedtosustainedisolation.

“Deprivedofnormalhumaninteraction,manysegregatedprisonersreportedlysufferfrommentalhealthproblemsincludinganxiety,panic,insomnia,paranoia,aggressionanddepression,”explainsthesocialpsychologistCraigHaneyinapaperforthejournalCrime&Delinquency.ShakaSenghor,awriterandactivistwhowasformerlyincarceratedformurder,explainsthatmanyinmatesinsolitaryconfinementhaveunderlyingmentalhealthissues,andtheisolationdamageseventhesoundofmind.Solitaryconfinement,hesays,is“oneofthemostbarbaricandinhumaneaspectsofoursociety.”

Duetothepsychologicaleffectsofbeingheldinisolation,theUNSpecialRapporteuronTorturehascondemnedtheuseofsustainedsolitaryconfinement,andcalledforabanonsolitaryconfinementforpeopleunder18yearsold.RafaelSperryofArchitects/Designers/PlannersforSocialResponsibilityhascalledforSubscribeforlessthan$1perweek

architectstostopdesigningprisonsthatsupportsolitaryconfinement—theargumentbeingthattheyenableviolationsofhumanrights.Snow’ssolutionmaybeinnovative,butit’salsoalarge-scalehumanrightsviolation.

Snowandsupportersmightarguethathe’snottryingtodepriveprisonersofhumancontact,butwantstogivethemanew,saferformofcontact.Butthere’sessentiallynoresearchonthehealtheffectsofsustainedexposuretohead-mountedvirtualreality.

Wouldprisonersbeforcedtochoosebetweensimulatorsicknessorisolation?Whatarethelong-termeffectsonvisionofimmersiveVRdisplays?Willprisonersexperiencevisualexhaustionthroughvergence-accommodation,ayet-to-be-solvedproblemofeyeandbrainduetoproblemsfocusingonobjectsthatareverynearbybutappeartobedistant?Furthermore,willcontactwithhumansthroughvirtualworldsmitigatethementalproblemsprisonersfaceinisolation,orexacerbatethem?Howdoweansweranyofthesequestionsethically,giventherestrictionswe’veputonexperimentingonprisonersinthewakeofNaziabuseofconcentrationcampprisoners.

Howdoesanapparentlyintelligentpersonendupsuggestingasolutionthatmight,atbest,constituteunethicalmedicalexperimentsonprisoners?Howdoesawell-meaningpersonsuggestaremedythatlikelyconstitutestorture?

***

ThedayIreadSnow’sessay,IhappenedtobeleadingaworkshoponsocialchangeduringtheYaleCivicLeadershipconference.SomeofthestudentsIworkedwithwerepartofthemovementtorenameYale’sCalhounCollege,andallweresmart,thoughtful,creative,andopenminded.

TheworkshopIledencouragesthinkerstoconsiderdifferentwaystheymightmakesocialchange,notjustthroughelectinggoodleadersandpassingjustlaws.OurlabatMITexaminestheideathatchangemakerscanusedifferentleversofchange,includingsocialnorms,marketforces,andnewtechnologiestoinfluencesociety,andtheworkshopIledasksstudentstoproposenovelsolutionstolong-standingproblemsfeaturingoneoftheseleversofchange.WithSnow’sessayinmind,Iaskedthestudentstotakeonthechallengeofprisonreform.

Oddly,noneoftheirsolutionsinvolvedvirtualrealityisolationcells.Infact,mostofthesolutionstheyproposedhadnothingtodowithprisonsthemselves.Instead,theirsolutionsfocusedonover-policingofblackneighborhoods,America’sSubscribeforlessthan$1perweek

aggressiveprosecutorialculturethatencouragesthosearrestedtopleadguilty,legalizationofsomeoralldrugs,reformofsentencingguidelinesfordrugcrimes,reformingparoleandprobationtoreducere-incarcerationfortechnicaloffenses,andbuildingrobustre-entryprogramstohelpex-consfindsupport,housing,andgainfulemployment.

Inotherwords,whenSnowfocusesonmakingprisonsaferandcheaper,he’sworkingonthewrongproblem.

Yes,prisonsintheUnitedStatecouldbesaferandcheaper.ButthelargerproblemisthattheU.S.incarceratesmorepeoplethananyothernationonEarth.Withfivepercentoftheworld’spopulation,weareresponsiblefor25percentoftheworld’sprisoners.

Snowmayseehisideasasradicalandtransformative,butthey’refundamentallyconservative—hetinkerswiththeconditionsofconfinementwithoutquestioningwhetherincarcerationishowoursocietyshouldsolveproblemsofcrimeandaddiction.Asaresult,hissolutionscanonlyaddressafacetoftheproblem,notthedeepstructuralissuesthatleadtotheprobleminthefirstplace.

Manyhardproblemsrequireyoutostepbackandconsiderwhetheryou’resolvingtherightproblem.Ifyoursolutiononlymitigatesthesymptomsofadeeperproblem,youmaybecalcifyingthatproblemandmakingithardertochange.Cheaper,saferprisonsmakeiteasiertoincarceratemoreAmericans.Theyalsoavoidaddressingfundamentalproblemsofaddiction,joblessness,mentalillness,andstructuralracism.

***

Someofmyhate-linkingfriendsbegantheireye-rollingaboutSnow’sarticlewiththetitle,whichreferencestwoofSiliconValley’smosthypedtechnologies.WiththecurrentfocusontheU.S.asan“innovationeconomy,”it’scommontoreadessayspredictingtheendofamajorsocialproblemduetoatechnicalinnovation.Bitcoinwillendpovertyinthedevelopingworldbyenablinginexpensivemoneytransfers.WikipediaandOneLaptopPerChildwilleducatetheworld’spoorwithoutneedforteachersorschools.SelfdrivingcarswillobviatepublictransportandreshapeAmericancities.

ThewriterEvgenyMorozovhasofferedasharpandhelpfulcritiquetothismodeofthinking,whichhecalls“solutionism.”Solutionismdemandsthatwefocusonproblemsthathave“niceandcleantechnologicalsolutionatourdisposal.”InhisSubscribeforlessthan$1perweek

book,ToSaveEverything,ClickHere,MorozovsavagesideaslikeSnow’s,regardlessofwhethertheyaremeantasthoughtexperimentsorseriouspolicyproposals.(Indeed,oneworryIhaveinwritingthisessayistakingSnow’sideastooseriously,asMorozovdoeswithmanyoftheideashelambastesinhisbook.)

Theproblemwiththesolutionistcritique,though,isthatittendstoremovetechnologicalinnovationfromtheproblem-solver’stoolkit.Infact,technologicaldevelopmentisoftenakeycomponentinsolvingcomplexsocialandpoliticalproblems,andnewtechnologiescansometimesopenapreviouslyintractableproblem.Theriseofinexpensivesolarpanelsmaybeanopportunitytomovenationsawayfromadependencyonfossilfuelsandbeginloweringatmosphericlevelsofcarbondioxide,muchasdevelopmentsinnaturalgasextractionandtransporttechnologieshavelessenedtheuseofdirtierfuelslikecoal.

Butit’srarethattechnologyprovidesarobustsolutiontoasocialproblembyitself.Successfultechnologicalapproachestosolvingsocialproblemsusuallyrequirechangesinlawsandnorms,aswellasmarketincentivestomakechangeatscale.

Iinstalledsolarpanelsontheroofofmyhouselastfall.Rapidadvancesinpaneltechnologymadethisaroutineinvestmentinsteadofaluxury,andtheexistenceofcompetitivesolarinstallersinourareameantthatmarketpressureskeptcostslow.Butthepanelswereultimatelyaffordablebecausefederalandstatelegislationofferedtaxrebatesfortheirpurchase,andbecauseMassachusettsstatelawrewardsmewithsolarcreditsforeachmegawattIproduce—whichIcanselltoutilitiesthroughanonlinemarketplacebecauseenergycompaniesarelegallymandatedtoproduceapercentageoftheirtotalpoweroutputviasolargeneration.Andwhiletherearepowerfultechnological,economic,andlegalforcespushingustowardsolarenergy,themostpowerfuldrivermaybethesocial,normativepressureofseeingourneighborsinstallsolarpanels—leavingusfeelinglikeweweren’tdoingourpart.

MyYalestudentswhotriedtousetechnologyastheirprimaryleverforreformingU.S.prisonshadadifficulttime.Oneteamofferedtheideaofanonlinesocialnetworkthatwouldhelprecentlyreleasedprisonersconnectwithotherex-offenderstofindsupport,advice,andjobopportunitiesintheoutsideworld.AnotherlookedatthesuccessofBardCollege’sremarkableprogramtohelpinmatesearnbachelor’sdegrees,andwonderedwhetheronlinelearningtechnologiescouldallowsimilareffortstoreachthousandsmoreprisoners.Butmanyoftheotherpromisingideasthataroseinourworkshopshadatechnologicalcomponent—giventheubiquityofmobilephones,whycan’tex-offendershaveSubscribeforlessthan$1perweek

theirprimarycontactwiththeirparoleofficersviamobilephones?Andgiventheriseofbig-datatechniquesusedfor“smartpolicing,”canwebetterreviewpatternsofpolicing—includingidentifyingandeliminatingcaseswhereofficersareover-focusingonsomecommunities?

Thetemptationoftechnologyisthatitpromisesfastandneatsolutionstosocialproblems.Itusuallyfailstodeliver.TheproblemwithMorozov’scritique,though,isthattechnologicalsolutions,combinedwithotherpathstochange,cansometimesturnintractableproblemsintosolvableones.Thekeyistounderstandtechnology’sroleasaleverofchangeinconjunctionwithcomplementarylevers.

***

ShaneSnowintroduceshisessayonprisonreformnotwithstatisticsabouttheineffectivenessofincarcerationinreducingcrime,butwithhisfearofbeingsenttoprison.Specifically,hefearsprisonrape,aseriousproblemwhichheradicallyoverestimates:“Myfearofprisonalsostemsfromthefactthatsome21percentofU.S.prisoninmatesgetrapedorcoercedintogivingsexualfavorstoterrifyingdudesnamedIgor.”Snowisreligiousaboutfootnotinghisessays,butnotasgoodatreadingthesourceshecites—thereportheusestojustifyhisfearof“Igor”(nicejobavoidingaccusationsofovertracismthere,Shane)indicatesthat2.91of1,000incarceratedpersonsexperiencedsexualviolence,or0.291percent,not21percent.

PerhapsforSnow,isolationforyearsatatime,livingvicariouslythroughaVRheadsetwhilesippinganoatfloursmoothiewouldbepreferabletotimeintheprisonyard,messhall,workshop,orclassroom.Butthere’snoindicationthatSnowhastalkedtoanycurrentorex-offendersabouttheirtimeinprison,oraboutthewaysinwhichencounterswithotherprisonersledthemtofaith,tomentorship,ortopersonaltransformation.

ThepeopleShaneimaginesaresoscary,soother,thathecan’timagineinteractingwiththem,learningfromthem,oranythingbutbeingviolentlyassaultedbythem.Nowonderhedoesn’tbothertoaskwhataspectsofprisonlifearemostandleastlivable,andwhichwouldbenefitmostfromtransformation.

Muchofmyworkfocusesonhowtechnologiesspreadacrossnational,religiousandculturalborders,andhowtheyaretransformedbythatspread.Cellphonenetworksbelievedthatpre-paidscratchcardswereanefficientwaytosellphoneminutesatlowcost—untilUgandansstartedusingthescratchoffcodestosendmoneyviatextmessageinasystemcalledSente,inventingpracticalmobilemoneyintheprocess.FacebookbelievesitsserviceisbestusedbyrealindividualsusingSubscribeforlessthan$1perweek

theirrealnames,andgoestogreatlengthstoremoveaccountsitbelievestobefictional.ButwhenFacebookcomestoacountrylikeMyanmar,whereitisseenasanewsservice,notasocialnetworkingservice,phoneshopsspecializinginsettingupaccountsusingfakenamesandphonenumbersrenderFacebook’spreferencesnullandvoid.

Smarttechnologistsanddesignershavelearnedthattheirpreferencesareseldomtheirusers’preferences,andcompanieslikeIntelnowemploybrilliantethnographerstodiscoverhowtoolsareusedbyactualusersintheirhomesandoffices.Understandingthewantsandneedsofusersisimportantwhenyou’redesigningtechnologiesforpeoplemuchlikeyourself,butit’sutterlycriticalwhendesigningforpeoplewithdifferentbackgrounds,experiences,wants,andneeds.GiventhatSnow’sunderstandingofprisonlifeseemstocomesolelyfrombinge-watchingOz,it’svirtuallyguaranteedthathisproposedsolutionwillfailinunanticipatedwayswhenusedbyrealpeople.

***

OfthemanywisethingsmyYalestudentssaidduringourworkshopwasastudentwhowonderedifheshouldbeparticipatingatall.“Idon’tknowanythingaboutprisons,Idon’thavefamilyinprison.Idon’tknowifIunderstandtheseproblemswellenoughtosolvethem,andIdon’tknowiftheseproblemsareminetosolve.”

TalkingabouttheworkshopwithmyfriendandcolleagueChelseaBarabas,sheaskedthewonderfullydeepquestion,“Isiteverokaytosolveanotherperson’sproblem?”

Onitssurface,thequestionlookseasytoanswer.Wecan’taskinfantstosolveproblemsofinfantmortality,andbyextension,itseemsunwisetoletkindergartenstudentsdesigneducationalpolicyordemandthattheseverelydisableddesigntheirownassistivetechnologies.

Buttheargumentismorecomplicatedwhenyouconsideritmoreclosely.It’sdifficultifnotimpossibletodesignagreatassistivetechnologywithoutworkingclosely,iteratively,andcooperativelywiththepersonwhowillwearoruseit.MycolleagueHughHerrdesignscutting-edgeprosthesesforU.S.veteranswho’velostlegs,andthecenterpieceofhislabisatreadmillwhereamputeestesthislimbs,givinghimandhisstudentsfeedbackaboutwhatworks,whatdoesn’t,andwhatneedstochange.Withouttheactivecollaborationwiththepeoplehe’stryingtohelp,he’sunabletomaketechnologicaladvances.

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Disabilityrightsactivistshavedemanded“nothingaboutuswithoutus,”asloganthatdemandsthatpoliciesshouldnotbedevelopedwithouttheparticipationofthoseintendedtobenefitfromthosepolicies.

Designphilosophieslikeparticipatorydesignandcodesignbringthisconcepttotheworldoftechnology,demandingthattechnologiesdesignedforagroupofpeoplebedesignedandbuilt,inpart,bythosepeople.Codesignchallengesmanyoftheassumptionsofengineering,requiringpeoplewhoareusedtoworkinginisolationtobuildbroadteamsandtounderstandthatthosemostqualifiedtoofferatechnicalsolutionmaybeleastqualifiedtoidentifyaneedorarticulateadesignproblem.Thismethodishardandfrustrating,butit’salsooneofthebestwaystoensurethatyou’resolvingtherightproblem,ratherthanimposingyourpreferredsolutiononasituation.

Ontheotherpolefromcodesignisanapproachtoengineeringwemightunderstandas“Makethingsbetterbymakingbetterthings.”Thisschoolofthoughtarguesthatwhilemobilephonesweredesignedforrichwesterners,notforusersindevelopingnations,they’vebecomeoneofthetransformativetechnologiesforthedevelopingworld.Frustratingly,thisargumentisvalid,too.Manyofthetechnologieswebenefitfromweren’tdesignedfortheirultimatebeneficiaries,butweresimplydesignedwellandadoptedwidely.ShaneSnow’sproposalisbuiltinpartonthisperspective—Soylentwasdesignedforgeekswhowantedtoskipmeals,notforprisonersinsolitaryconfinement,butperhapsitmightbepreferabletoNutraloaforotherhorrorsoftheprisonkitchen.

I’mnotsurehowweresolvethedichotomyof“withus”versus“betterthings.”I’dnotethateveryengineerI’veevermetbelieveswhatshe’sbuildingisabetterthing.Asaresult,strategiesthatdependonfindingtheoptimumsolutionsoftenrelyonchoice-richmarketswhereuserscangravitatetowardsthebestsolution.Inotherwords,theydon’tworkverywellinanenvironmentlikeprison,whereprisonersareunlikelytobegivenachoicebetweenSnow’sisolationcellsandtheprisonasitcurrentlystands,andareevenlesslikelytoparticipateindesigningabetterprison.

AmIadvocatingcodesignofprisonswiththecurrentlyincarcerated?Hellyeah,Iam.Andwithex-offenders,correctionsofficers,familiesofprisoners,aswellastheexpertswhodesignthesefacilitiestoday.They’relikelytodoabetterjobthansmartYalestudents,ortechnologycommentators.

***

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ItisunlikelythatanyoneisgoingtoinviteShaneSnowtoredesignamajorprisonanytimesoon,sospendingmorethan3,000wordsurgingyoutorejecthissolutionmaybeawasteofyourtimeandmine.ButthemistakesSnowmakesarethosethatengineersmakeallthetimewhentheyturntheirenergyandcreativitytosolvingpressingandpersistentsocialproblems.LookingcloselyathowSnow’ssolutionsfallshortofferssomehopeforbuildingbetter,fairer,andsanersolutions.

Thechallenge,unfortunately,isnotinofferingacritiqueofhowsolutionsgowrong.Excellentversionsofthatcritiqueexist,fromMorozov’swaronsolutionism,toCourtneyMartin’sbrilliant“TheReductiveSeductionofOtherPeople’sProblems.”Ifit’seasytodesigninappropriatesolutionsaboutproblemsyoudon’tfullyunderstand,it’snotmuchhardertocriticizetheinadequacyofthosesolutions.

What’shardissynthesis—learningtousetechnologyaspartofwell-designedsociotechnicalsolutions.Thesesolutionssometimesrequireprofoundadvancesintechnology.Buttheyvirtuallyalwaysrequirepeopletobuildcomplex,multifunctionalteamsthatworkwithandlearnfromthepeoplethetechnologyissupposedtobenefit.

ThreestudentsattheMITMediaLabtaughtacourselastsemestercalled“UnpackingImpact:ReflectingasWeMake.”TheypointoutthattheMediaLabpridesitselfonteachingstudentshowtomakeanything,andhowtoturnwhatyoumakeintoabusiness,butrarelyteachesreflectionaboutwhatwemakeandwhatitmightmeanforsocietyasawhole.Myexperiencewithteachingthisreflectiveprocesstoengineersisthatit’sbothimportantandpotentiallyparalyzing,thatonceweunderstandtheincompletenessoftechnologyasapathforsolvingproblemsandthewaystechnologicalsolutionsrelatetosocial,market,andlegalforces,itcanbehardtobuildanythingatall.

I’mgoingtoteachanewcoursethisfall,tentativelytitled“TechnologyandSocialChange.”It’sgoingtoincludeanexaminationofthefourleversofsocialchangeLarryLessigsuggestsinCode,andwhichI’vebeenexploringaspossiblepathstocivicengagement.Thecoursewillincludedeepmethodologicaldivesintocodesign,andwillexamineusinganthropologyastoolforunderstandinguserneeds.Itwilllookatunintendedconsequences,caseswheretechnology’sbestintentionsfail,andcaseswherecarefulexplorationandpreparationledtotechnosocialsystemsthatmakeusersandcommunitiesmorepowerfulthantheywerebefore.

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I’m“callingmyshot”herefortworeasons.One,byannouncingitpublicly,I’mlesslikelytobackoutofit,andgivenhowhardtheseproblemsare,backingoutisarealpossibility.Andtwo,ifyou’vereadthisfarinthispost,you’velikelythoughtaboutthisissueandhavesuggestionsforwhatweshouldreadandwhatexercisesweshouldtryinthecourseoftheclass—Ihopeyoumightbekindenoughtosharethosewithme.

Intheend,I’mgratefulforShaneSnow’ssurreal,BlackMirrorvisionofthefutureprisonbothbecauseit’sahelpfuljumping-offpointforunderstandinghowharditistomakechangewellbyusingtechnology,andbecausetheU.S.prisonsystemisabrokenanddysfunctionalsysteminneedofchange.Butweneedtofindwaystodisruptbetter,tochallengeknowledgeably,tobringthepeopletheyhopetobenefitintotheprocess.Ifyoucan,pleasehelpmefigureouthowweteachtheseideastothesmart,creativepeopleIworkwith—peoplewhowanttochangetheworld,andareafraidofbreakingitintheprocess.

Wewanttohearwhatyouthinkaboutthisarticle.Submitalettertotheeditororwritetoletters@theatlantic.com.

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