(How to) build technology for societal resilience

In October 2021, I was a panelist at the Microsoft Research Summit 2021, alongside senior cryptographers, architects, and engineers at Microsoft Research. We discussed our learnings building technology for the COVID-19 response (including vaccine passports, vaccine locator bots, and software for community health) with a goal towards reflecting on what is needed to build technology for society. Some of my remarks, particularly on the crucial role of social science in building technology for societal resilience, are transcribed and edited for clarity below....

Dear Harvard and Dear/Cher Canada: Connecting distanced communities

During the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic, I led a project to connect distanced communities through a virtual postcard platform. We started with a platform built for the Harvard community, and then expanded nationally in Canada. We witnessed the stories of over a thousand participants, alongside tens of thousands of site visitors. I had the honour of sharing this project on the Main Stage of the 2nd Annual John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences-Harvard Business School Technology Showcase....