Making technology understandable, humane, and accountable
RagTechDev is a Singapore-based public-interest tech education organisation.
We create media, tools, and research that make technology accessible by grounding it in real human experience.
Our work sits at the intersection of:
- technology,
- society,
- education,
- and everyday life.
We focus on understanding technology not as an abstract force, but as something built, deployed, and experienced by people.
flowchart TB
RTD["RagTechDev<br/>Public-interest Tech Education Org"]
MISSION["Mission:<br/>Make technology understandable,<br/>humane, and accountable"]
STORY["Storytelling<br/>(Podcast)"]
PLAY["Playful Learning<br/>(Techie Taboo)"]
RESEARCH["Applied Research<br/>(Futurenet)"]
EDUCATION["Long-form Education<br/>(Illustrated Book)"]
ST_OUT["Short-term Outcomes<br/>• Reduced intimidation<br/>• Better mental models<br/>• Increased curiosity"]
MT_OUT["Medium-term Outcomes<br/>• Informed parents & educators<br/>• Reflective tech practitioners<br/>• Healthier discourse"]
LT_OUT["Long-term Impact<br/>• Tech accountability<br/>• Child protection<br/>• Intentional digital futures"]
RTD --> MISSION
MISSION --> STORY
MISSION --> PLAY
MISSION --> RESEARCH
MISSION --> EDUCATION
STORY --> ST_OUT
PLAY --> ST_OUT
RESEARCH --> ST_OUT
EDUCATION --> ST_OUT
ST_OUT --> MT_OUT
MT_OUT --> LT_OUT
Technology increasingly shapes how we work, learn, communicate, and grow up.
Yet most people are expected to engage with complex digital systems without:
- understanding how they work,
- knowing whose incentives they serve,
- or being equipped to question their impact.
Public tech discourse is often split between:
- hype-driven innovation narratives, and
- fear-driven moral panic.
Both fail to reflect lived reality.
We exist to close this gap by demystifying technology in human terms, so people can engage with it thoughtfully rather than passively.
To make technology accessible by helping people understand how it works, how it affects society, and how to engage with it responsibly.
We do this by prioritising:
- plain language over jargon,
- lived experience over abstraction,
- transparency over authority.
We use multiple complementary formats to reach people where they are:
Real conversations with people in tech about real life in tech—work, trade-offs, constraints, and consequences.
Games and creative tools that lower the barrier to technical literacy and encourage explanation through analogy and collaboration.
Human-centred research into the digital landscape for children and adolescents, with a focus on cyber safety and online harm.
Durable, accessible explanations of how technology works and how it shapes society, designed for non-specialist readers.
Across all initiatives, we aim for work that is:
- accessible without being shallow,
- critical without being alarmist,
- and open to scrutiny.
Conversations with technologists, educators, parents, and practitioners about the realities of technology in everyday life.
Goal: Build shared understanding and reduce intimidation around tech.
A card game inspired by Taboo, using technical concepts to encourage explanation and discussion.
Goal: Make tech concepts approachable and fun for non-experts, classrooms, and workplaces.
A research initiative exploring the current digital environment for children and adolescents.
Focus areas include:
- cyber safety,
- social media exposure,
- and developmental impacts of digital systems.
Goal: Produce grounded insights that inform parents, educators, and future interventions.
An illustrated, non-technical book explaining how certain technologies work and their implications on society.
Goal: Provide long-term educational value beyond trends and news cycles.
Core hypothesis:
If people understand technology in human terms, they are more likely to engage with it critically, responsibly, and constructively.
- Reduced intimidation around tech
- Better mental models and vocabulary
- Increased curiosity and questioning
- More informed parents and educators
- More reflective tech practitioners
- Healthier public discourse around digital risks
- A society better equipped to:
- hold technology accountable,
- protect vulnerable groups (especially children),
- and shape digital systems intentionally.
- We are not a tech news outlet.
- We are not a marketing channel for products.
- We are not advocating blind techno-optimism or blanket rejection of technology.
Our role is to increase understanding, not dictate conclusions.
We use GitHub to:
- document our thinking and processes,
- organise initiatives and research,
- and maintain institutional memory.
Where appropriate, our work is open by default.
This repository structure reflects our belief that reasoning should be visible, especially when dealing with technology that affects society.
- Accessibility without dilution
- Transparency of reasoning
- Respect for lived experience
- Ethical responsibility and safeguarding
- Long-term thinking over short-term virality
We welcome:
- thoughtful collaborators,
- educators and researchers,
- and contributors aligned with our values.
If you’re interested in collaborating or learning more, start by exploring our repositories or opening an issue.
