Spent most of this week in Dubai, working with a new reseller partner to help grow the region. Only two blog posts ago, I talked about companies’ ‘secret weapons’ and this team is impressive. They surrounded us with a circle of dynamic and motivated individuals who are chomping at the bit to make a difference. I sense this partnership will do well, they are keen to succeed. I also had the most pleasant check-in experience via Emirates Airlines. I checked-in myself, printed my own luggage tag and boarding card, all at a kiosk and weigh-in counter utilising the latest technology – quick, effortless and impressive. We can all learn from this experience – I felt it was the best customer service, I had to do it all myself, yet it was more satisfying when it worked.
The iPhone is not just leading the way in design, but could well revolutionise shopping. Using near-field communication (NFC – short-range wireless between a chip and reader) the device could easily act as a payment system, allowing you to swipe your phone to pay bills or groceries (this happens in Japan today) or work in combination with an app to use it as the key to your car. Thanks to my friend Ian Green from Liverpool Community College, the Sunday Times and to Simon’s blog for the pieces of information that now form a mini-story (beyond just this post) – technology and collaboration at its best.
The annual gadget extravaganza is under way in Las Vegas and thousands are there to digest the announcements. I read, and like, the term “intelligence of things” from the event, and manufacturers are upgrading their products with technologies such as GPS, internet and bluetooth to inject connectivity and new life into them. ”Everything connected” appears to be the trend and connectivity will spread beyond computer-related devices to everyday products such as meat thermometers and toasters. Hardware will be worthless without the app.
I am sitting in my office at home beavering away, and my wife is downstairs emailing me. Is the art of conversation disappearing? Dining room furniture sales are on the decline and technology has been blamed from some quarters, because we no longer eat together as families – everyone hunched over their laptops or mobile devices. Still, I can’t live without it, and I was amazed to see the first ever Apple fetch £130,000 at auction. I do love everything about Apple, plus bedtime reading has for now been replaced by good progess on Angry Birds! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11825954
This is Tan Thi Nguyen. She lives in Vietman and runs a shop that sells the fresh meat of pigs. I am supporting her. Through Kiva (kiva.org) and their technology, I have become a lender to a number of small businesses around the world. Lending upwards of $25, it makes such a difference to people in Peru, Vietnam, Cambodia. So easy to do, so fulfilling so see the difference 3 computer-clicks can make. The Kiva record is impressive, over 220,000 loans valued at more than $163m and a repayment rate of 99%. As long as I am standing, I will be doing this.
I read that Tarzan is being relaunched as an eco-warrior and his companion Jane will be on Facebook and possess an iPod and mobile. Has the world gone completely mad? Are you trying to destroy the abiding memories of my youth? There is only one Tarzan and his name is Johnny Weissmuller. Who will Tarzan talk to in the jungle by mobile phone? Some things are best left as they are.
I am just back from the CompTIA member conference in Johannesburg, and a good event it was too. As always on these monster flights, I read books, magazines, papers, anything I can learn something new. I believe technology will become the next utility, to the point where you can’t see it and this is a great step in that direction. Light Touch, developed in Cambridge, can turn any flat surface into a 10-inch touchscreen. As this evolves, has connectivity and is integrated into portable devices, will it be goodbye monitor, keyboard and laptop bag forever? I hope so.




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