6 Things That Show Dell Has Totally Changed Over The Past Decade

As you might have heard, Dell started as a side gig in 1984, when its founder, Michael Dell, was a freshman at the University of Texas at Austin.

Ever the tinkerer and entrepreneur, he figured that if people and companies were willing to pay huge amounts of money for computers with parts and functions they didn’t even want, then he could probably get them to pay a lot less for computers built to order.

Turns out, this was a pretty amazing idea.

Giving customers what they wanted, in the way they wanted it, for less, was a genius proposition. (Moving the business online was a similarly genius move.) Three decades later, Dell is so established that it can be tough to imagine they were ever an underdog.

Nowadays, the market for computers isn’t just hobbyists and businesses—it’s everyone. Dell has remained at the forefront by emphasizing its entrepreneurial culture, betting on technology to shape the future, and investing in its people.

Over the last decade, Dell has doubled down on these efforts, transforming itself along the way.

Throwing everything they’ve got at saving the planet.

Did you know that 142,000 computers are thrown out in the United States every day? Well, that’s the number from 2010. Recent counts suggest that e-waste generation has tripled in the past decade.

But that’s why Dell has pledged to use 100 million pounds of recycled content in its products by 2020. Just like Michael Dell’s tinkering past, the sustainability team at Dell thinks of every and any way they can prevent old technology from rotting in a dump. Among other initiatives, they recycle usable parts, donate used tech to schools in need, refill old printer cartridges, and pick up old computers (of any brand, FOR FREE).

Oh, and they’re turning old technology into art to raise awareness of the growing e-waste problem.

Bringing in the cloud.

After acquiring enterprise software giant EMC in 2016, Dell became one of the largest producers of large-scale data storage, cyber security, and analytics solutions (and basically anything else digital that makes a business work better). It also means they employ the latest in cloud computing technology to do all of the above—only better, faster, and smarter.

That means when you’re working for Dell, you’ll get an opportunity to make an impact in any tech field. Because there’s not a user in the world who couldn’t benefit from a Dell product.

They’re all about Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and everything in between.

Dell’s VR-ready computers are being used to power tech that—apart from providing entertainment—can help treat veterans with PTSD, influence environmental policy, and shed light on humanitarian issues like never before. These innovative uses of VR and AR show how this groundbreaking technology could upend the status quo across industries.

Making wearable tech that fights back against disabilities.

We’ve all imagined a future where we can eliminate needless suffering. Yet Dell employees are doing their part to make that dream a reality today.

Through partnerships with charities and schools, Dell has provided affordable, 3D-printed limbs to children and adults with severe disabilities. With the help of Indian school children, the company has also developed wearable technology that can assist the blind with the kinds of day-to-day activities many of us take for granted.

Humans teaching AI, AI teaching doctors.

While the most famous examples of AI may include Jeopardy-playing robots and human-like machines in movies, the visionaries at Dell see yet another opportunity to create positive change through the technology.

Dell’s research on machine learning has paved the way for their partner TGen to assist pediatric cancer doctors in finding better treatments for the disease. Machine brains aren’t like ours, and the experts at Dell understand that it’s more than just crunching numbers.

Basically, by taking the models humans have used for decades to learn from medical data and placing them in the hands of an adaptive AI, Dell researchers have made it so that childhood cancer doctors can learn from their mistakes and successes in way less time. That could save lives and reduce suffering for children across the globe.

Powering the concerts of the future.

When you think of the craziest live shows in recent musical history, Glitch Mob probably comes to mind. The EDM trio uses thousands of lights, speakers, and just about everything else to put together shows that match the wild pace of their music. And behind all the flash and excitement is a Dell Alienware processor, turning out the music in real-time.

Just about anywhere life is changing for the better, you can find a piece of Dell technology. But don’t worry, they’ll still sell you a PC—or one of their million other cutting-edge tech products—for a good price.

Want to work for a company that has remained innovative since it was founded? Dell is hiring on WayUp, so check out their open positions and apply!