Technology and Life Insights from “The Most Connected Human on Earth.” Part 1

Known as "The Most Connected Human on Earth," Chris Dancy is famous for utilizing hundreds of technologies and systems that work together to literally track and archive his every move. For Chris, it's not about bragging rights - it's about pioneering "a quantified life existence." What does a quantified life look like? To find out, we got a chance to talk with Chris!

Chris travels extensively to share his technology expertise with the world. He's been featured in major publications like Wired Magazine and TechCrunch, as well as TV programs on BBC and FOX News. However, Chris is much more than a gadget expert. He's a productivity master who's spreading the word on how modern workers need to plug into the quantitative revolution so they can stay relevant and competitive in the workplace.

In fact, Chris was quick to point out to XFER a distinction between people that buy the latest gadgets for the purpose of showing off, and people that are taking advantage of the latest tech in order to improve their lives. Talking on the subject of Bring Your Own Device, Chris told us that, "Some people are well compensated and will bring their own 'toys' to work. We are now in the phase of 'Bring your own Existence' to work. When I'm with a company, I have my own private devices, services, accounting, even assistant. We are not seeing the consumerization of the enterprise, we are witnessing the corporatization of the individual."

For Chris, his message about the benefits of a quantitative lifestyle is personal. As reported by Wired: "Dancy — who has worked for years managing the information technology help desks inside big companies — had an epiphany when his company was acquired and he was laid off. That made him start thinking about how the IT industry was changing. 'I didn't think I had a chance of being employable in 2015,' he says."

Seeing how technology was changing the workplace, Chris saw the need for workers to distinguish themselves by taking advantage of available technology to measure and quantify their performance. The way Dancy sees things, it won't be long before companies begin measuring their workers using the same technologies he uses.

As Dancy told Wired, the ways companies currently measure the performance of their workers aren't cutting it: "Enterprise needs new measurements of success for knowledge workers. Today's knowledge work is measured in really inappropriate ways." Chris believes that one way for modern workers to gain the competitive edge is to use personal technology to measure and improve their own performance. This is good advice. When it comes to data, there's the factor of control, and if you're not tracking and measuring the data concerning your own performance, then someone else will.

Currently, Chris Dancy utilizes hundreds of systems and technologies to measure and quantify his life. When XFER asked Chris for a precise number, he told us, "Between IOT (Internet of things, Apps, Wearables, Services and Sensors) between 300-700 depending on the day or task." At first glance, this may seem like a ridiculous amount of tech, but Chris went on to explain that the average person utilizes more technology than what they may realize: "Most people utilize at least 200 if they added up all their apps, programs, websites, and connected habits such as 'club cards etc.'."

Out of all of these hundreds of technologies, which one's are Chris' favorites? And how would a modern employee take advantage of a quantitative life existence? To find out the answers to these questions, check our next blog article as XFER continues our interview with Chris Dancy, "The Most Connected Human on Earth."

Learn more about Chris Dancy by checking out his website: http://www.chrisdancy.com/.