Elevator Pitch
In this talk I explore the notion of forgettable technology, that is technology with properties (intentional or otherwise) that help users rediscover what it is and how to use it. How do we embrace this idea and build systems that are ok to forget? Can we use GenAI to help?
Description
Modern backend systems are inherently complex, often leading to cognitive overload for engineers who can’t remember every detail. In this session, we’ll dive into the concept of “forgettable technology”—systems designed to be intuitive and easy to rediscover, even after details are forgotten.
We’ll explore: - The essential properties of forgettable technology, including robust documentation, intuitive interfaces, and effective tooling. - The importance of designing systems with properties that support rediscovery and ease of use. - Practical strategies for creating systems that minimize the need for constant memory retention. - How to leverage generative AI and large language models to further enhance this approach, providing real-time support and information retrieval.
By embracing the idea that humans forget complex systems, we can build systems that reduce cognitive load, improve productivity, and allow engineers to concentrate on solving critical problems.
Notes
Technical requirements: All levels