Yi-Tan hosts a weekly 40-minute conference call about navigating change in technology and society.
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August 30th, 2010 |
(Disclosure: I’m launching a venture called REX, which is based on the idea of a Relationship Economy.)
The Millennium rang in two connection events of global scope: sudden global connectivity (through mobiles and the Intertubes) and a growing global consciousness. We’re only beginning to grok the consequences.
All these new links are shifting relationships of many kinds: among people, between people and companies, between companies and the Earth, between citizens and their governments… the list is long, the road is bumpy and the changes required are many.
The Relationship Economy thesis charts a path into this new world order, and highlights the skills and traits needed to thrive along the way.
Together, let’s discuss:
* How are relationships changing? Due to what forces?
* What are the new sources of value? What happens to commerce?
* Where are these forces taking us? What might 2020 look like?
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July 28th, 2010 |
If you’re not fond of the term “Web 2.0,” you may be itchy about “cloud computing” as well.
The Cloud touches many different offers, from SaaS-y single-purpose applications (e.g., Salesforce, NetSuite, ExactTarget) to Web services (think Google Maps and Facebook Connect) and utility computing platforms such as Amazon’s EC2 and Dynamo, as well as Google’s App Engine. The categories are still growing and shifting.
With analysts Robert Rose and Timothy Prickett-Morgan, let’s discuss:
- What have we learned from the Cloud so far? Is it really cheaper?
- Who are the major players and how are they shifting?
- What has the Cloud meant for corporate IT?
- Where is the Cloud taking us? How might this play out?
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July 23rd, 2010 |
A big bright spot in the semiconductor industry is the world of LEDs, as was evident in the Semicon West that just ended.
From lighting and gadget screens to TVs, billboards, cars and more, forecasts for LED sales are pretty rosy.
With luminary analyst Carl Johnson, let’s discuss:
- What do the LED forecasters say? What are the principal areas of demand?
- Who are the major suppliers?
- How are LEDs doing relative to substitute technologies?
- Are there bumps in the road? When will LEDs be ubiquitous?
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July 10th, 2010 |
We’ve seen a spate of recent books with one-word titles that are about perception and persuasion, including:
- Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, by Malcolm Gladwell
- Click: The Magic of Instant Connections, by Ori and Rom Brafman
- Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth and Happiness, by Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein
- Sway: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior, by Ori and Rom Brafman (again!)
- Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, by Dan Pink (watch this sketchcast!)
- Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard, by Dan and Chip Heath
Ori and the Heath Brothers have been on Yi-Tan before. These authors are all drawing on recent research in sociology, psychology, anthropology, neuroimaging (fMRIs), plus the disciplines of behavioral economics, neuroeconomics, influence, positive psychology and several soon-to-be-named fields.
Together, let’s discuss:
- What do these books collectively tell us about human nature? about systems design?
- What does this work mean for our future as customers? as citizens?
- Can we weave a coherent narrative through these books? Do they build on one another or not?
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June 30th, 2010 |
Does your mobile have a cool GPS feature? Do you shop with credit or debit cards? Would you like to be able to pay for things with your mobile instead? How convenient, no?
This is just one of many trends that leave behind breadcrumbs that are superfood for analytic people like Jeff Jonas, one of the world’s premier data puzzle masters.
For a taste of where we’re headed, read these two posts of his:
With Jeff, let’s discuss:
- What privacy invasions are already possible that we considered impossible?
- Is there any scenario in which this surveillance society doesn’t happen? Can we step out?
- How will life be different? Is there a book or movie that captures it well?
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June 30th, 2010 |
After a career as an ad executive, James Othmer recently published his third book, a comic novel titled Holy Water (a review).
In it, he skewers the worlds of globalization, marketing and more, drawing many insights from the discrepancies between how things seem and how they all-too-often really are.
With James, let’s discuss:
- What inspired this novel?
- Is any company really “marketing with meaning” yet? How does that work?
- How is life in the book industry, compared to the ad world? (Watch his awesome Adland video.)
Oh, and my apologies if you hoped this call would be about Catholic sacraments and such….
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June 30th, 2010 |
Facebook keeps pushing the envelope. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, you have to admire their chutzpah, agility and strategic brains.
The company’s privacy adventures are already the stuff of legend and infographic, with some framing Facebook itself as the most ambitious phishing scheme ever and others starting a “leave Facebook movement” that hasn’t really caught fire. Ah, the excitement.
Between opening up everyone’s data (the Open Graph) and crafty features such as the “Like” button, Facebook is trying to make itself a permanent part of the tech infrastructure. Maybe we should watch the movie or read the book.
With our awesome colleague Al Chang, let’s discuss:
- What is Facebook’s strategy? What is the end game they seek?
- Why don’t people seem to care so much about their privacy?
- What’s the genius behind Facebook’s Like feature? What’s the Open Graph?
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June 30th, 2010 |
We’ve talked about Participatory Medicine and DIY in various ways, but we’ve only scratched the surface of what people are starting to do by collecting and sharing their health-related information.
If you read Gary Wolf‘s recent New York Times Magazine cover article, The Data-Driven Life, you’ll enjoy this call. He and Kevin Kelly recently started the multiparty blog The Quantified Self, where they (and Alexandra Carmichael, who just joined the fray) are describing the many facets of QS.
With Gary, let’s discuss:
- What is QS? Your favorite examples? Will everyone call it QS?
- Why is it taking off now? What sectors will it affect most?
- What dangers lurk in QS?
- What’s the best thing that QS enthusiasts might do to advance the discussion?
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June 4th, 2010 |
We haven’t done a Speed Round call in a long time, so let’s have a quick, broad conversation on a series of topics that are top of mind these days, such as the effects of the Gulf oil spill, Facebook’s privacy (mis)adventures, the iPad’s repercussions, a flurry of Android phones (and more!) and Venter’s artificial critter (ok, not quite a critter yet).
Have strong opinions on any of these? Jump in!
Together, let’s discuss:
- Where might the oil spill saga go next? nuke it?!?
- How do you feel about your privacy online? Have you acted on it?
- Has the iPad eclipsed other e-readers, or is there hope?
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June 4th, 2010 |
Are you a Netflix customer, or do you download from BitTorrent? Did you watch the 3D version of Avatar, with the special glasses on?
There’s a battle on for our movie-viewing eyeballs. The most optimistic players hope that “enhanced” versions of movies will become the default, the way Starbucks turned the corner diner’s $.25 coffee into a $3 experience. The future of on-demand home viewing is also up in the air.
With Coburn Ventures’ Brynne Thompson and Dave Bujnowski, let’s discuss:
- Is 3D a passing fad? Will movie theaters be around in 10 years?
- How will we be viewing movies in five years?
- Where do Coinstar, CinemaNow, BestBuy, HBO and others fit?
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