There are many problems these days; Climate change, poverty, Illiteracy, debt crises, these are only a few. Google has decided to give solving these problems a try and developed the “Solve for X” initiative. This project brings together some of Google’s greatest minds and asks them to creatively tackle some of the most perplexing global issues. The hope is that the “Solve for X” brain trust will come out with radical solutions using current technologies in a way previously unthought-of.
Tackling the biggest global issues
You may question, how can a group of people at “Solve for X” find remedies for concerns that have baffled world leaders for years? The brain trust at “Solve for X” is composed of forty-six scientists, entrepreneurs, and innovators from all around the world. And these individuals are excited. Google explains it as: “This combination of things—a huge problem to solve, a radical solution for solving it and the breakthrough technology to make it happen—is the essence of a moonshot.”
Tackling water scarcity
Last month Mashable.com ran a story on the “Solve for X” project. Mashable cited the account of an individual who took part in a “Solve for X” retreat. He said they were focused on the problem of water scarcity. What solutions did they come up with on this retreat? One involved forward osmosis with recycled ammonium salts. It’s fine if you don’t know what that means, fortuitously the people at “Solve for X” do.
The need for technology brain trusts
Whether or not “Solve for X” results in real remedies for the world’s problems, the concept definitely has value. Technology is commonly developed with a single objective in mind, usually for entertainment. That said, it’s likely that there are many ways we’re able to use current technologies that we haven’t considered. With luck ,, “Solve for X” will help us take advantage of that potential.
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