A morning spent at Accenture in Paris provided us with an insight into the creative world of innovative ideas and technology. Iron Man-esque computer systems, ticklish robots, mind-reading drones and lots and lots of sandwiches took up the majority of the morning. Monsieur Berthon, Managing Director of Digital Strategy at Accenture talked to us about the potential and possibilities of developing technology to alter our lifestyles. We were inspired by the process of “ideation” – fostering an environment of innovation setting the foundations of an idea, creating a Rumble workshop of thoughts and ideas, creating a mock-up or even a ‘pretotype’ (a pretend prototype to explore practicality and usability) and finally working towards developing the idea into a business opportunity.
We were most interested in ethical responsibilities of technology design and innovation in medicine and health, the rise of a digital generation and the possibility of regressing into a greater anti-social society (Pokemon-Go comes to mind?) as well as the question to how and when this technology will arrive in schools. Needless to say, the Accenture tour asked critical questions regarding our digital future.
We were most interested in ethical responsibilities of technology design and innovation in medicine and health, the rise of a digital generation and the possibility of regressing into a greater anti-social society (Pokemon-Go comes to mind?) as well as the question to how and when this technology will arrive in schools. Needless to say, the Accenture tour asked critical questions regarding our digital future.
The afternoon we split into groups and took on Paris! Different groups explored the dark side of Paris and the Sweeney-Todd characters that inhabited the dark alleyways whilst some of us enjoyed the sweeter side and ate chocolate, caramel and petit-chou’s until we couldn’t walk! The French Revolution, WWII and Parisian landmarks were also tours to choose from. Whilst the counsellors slept on the bus back to Fontainebleau, the students reenergised with their stories of blood, torture, prisons… cakes, chocolate, pain au chocolat…
Eleanor Bett
Counsellor at Summer@INSEAD 2016