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In this presentation titled "Humane Development - Empathy" at RubyConf AU 2016, Ernie Miller discusses the importance of empathy in software development. He emphasizes that software is created by humans for humans, and empathy is the foundational skill that fosters better development practices.

Key Points:
- **Introduction to Humane Development**: Miller introduces the concept of Humane Development, which focuses on the human aspect of software creation. He stresses that empathy is a crucial element that enables developers to write software effectively that genuinely meets user needs.
- **Personal Anecdote**: He shares a story about a satisfying experience from a previous job where he solved a pain point for a coworker named Anne. After observing her workflow, he implemented a simple word count feature that alleviated a bug, demonstrating how understanding user struggles can lead to impactful enhancements in software.
- **Empathy as a Superpower**: Miller describes empathy as a "superpower" in development, allowing developers to connect with users' needs beyond their own perspectives. Recognizing the collective pain points among users can lead to meaningful solutions and foster user satisfaction.
- **Soft Skills vs. Hard Skills**: While the presentation acknowledges the significance of technical skills (hard skills), it challenges the notion that soft skills such as empathy hold lesser value. Miller argues that empathy can and should be learned, much like any technical skill, and that it plays a critical role in communication and collaboration within teams.
- **Gender and Empathy**: Miller addresses common stereotypes regarding empathy and gender, providing insights from research that challenge the belief that women are inherently more empathetic than men, suggesting that empathy is a universal skill intrinsic to all humans.
- **Empathy in Other Species**: He cites a study on rats demonstrating that empathy is not exclusive to humans, implying that developers can also tap into this inherent ability to better connect with others. 
- **Strategies for Practicing Empathy**: Miller concludes with actionable suggestions for improving empathy skills, such as engaging with strangers, practicing active listening, and challenging personal assumptions about others.

**Conclusion**: The session underscores that empathy is not just a soft skill but an essential component for effective software development, leading to solutions that truly improve users’ experiences and fostering a more collaborative and understanding development environment.

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