MediaFuturist: Bottom Lines

Facebook knows what we SAY but Google knows what we THINK - where does this leave us?

Think about it for a minute: Google knows our deepest secrets because we search with INTENTION - and in realtime, and often even in real-place (i.e. when using mobile devices) - for the things that matter to us - whether it is an upcoming trip or a disease that we are suffering from, or vexing problem we may have. Google knows all that stuff, and keeps it in their records (unless we take steps to delete it all... allegedly). Facebook, on the other hand, just knows what we SAY, what we share, what we purport to LIKE. That's also quite deep but... there is a big difference. Your thoughs? Browse my Privacy to Publicy links to read more

Posted by Gerd Leonhard at 12:08 PM in #egotoeco, Attention Economy, Bottom Lines, Broadband Culture, Consumer Insights, Crucial Stuff, Current Affairs, Data is the new Oil, Facebook, Future of Advertising, Future of Agencies, Future of Business, Future of Marketing, Future of Media, Google, human futures, Link Economy, Marketing2.0, Mobile Advertising, Mobility, Predictions, Privacy, Realizations, Social Advertising, Social Commerce, Social Media, Social Networks, Trends, Trust, Web/Tech, Wisdoms | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

New Flickr Slideshow: from Ego to Eco - the Future of Business and Innovation

... adapted from my recent presentation at the 5th congress of innovation in Porto Alegre, Brazil....

Posted by Gerd Leonhard at 3:47 PM in #egotoeco, Attention Economy, Bottom Lines, Branding, Brazil, Broadband Culture, capitalism 2.0, Conferences, Consumer Insights, Creative Rights, Cultural Industries, Current Affairs, Data is the new Oil, EgoSystem EcoSystem, Future of Business, Future of Media, Green Futures, Inequality, Innovation, MY PRESENTATIONS | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Efficiency shouldn't come at the expense of humanity

"So by all means, encourage your people to embrace technology, get great at business analytics, and otherwise ramp up the efficiency of everything they do. But just make sure all their efficiency doesn't come at the expense of their humanity. Small gestures can send big signals about who we are, what we care about, and why people should want to affiliate with us. It's harder (and more important) to be kind than clever"

Bill Taylor writes this at Harvard Business Review, and it really resonated with me. Technology tends to make us more efficient - but are we more human or less, when technology is exponentially improving?

Posted by Gerd Leonhard at 10:58 AM in Bottom Lines, human futures, Realizations | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Excerpts: How Google is becoming an extension of your mind (CNet)

Great feature on Google and technology on CNet, here. I have summarized some of the key findings for you - I shall leave it to you to be scared out of your wits or ultra-excited.

"What Google is now becoming is an extension of your mind, an omnipresent digital assistant that figures out what you need and supplies it before you even realize you need it"

"Google, in essence, becomes a part of you. Imagine Google playing a customized audio commentary based on what you look at while on a tourist trip and then sharing photo highlights with your friends as you go. Or Google taking over your car when it concludes based on your steering response time and blink rate that you're no longer fit to drive. Or your Google glasses automatically beaming audio and video to the police when you say a phrase that indicates you're being mugged"

"For a Google-augmented life, you must grant the Googlebot unprecedented privileges to monitor your personal information and behavior"

"The bottom line: the more types of work computers do on your behalf to make your life easier, the more access you must grant them to the intimacies of your personal life. And that means it's time for Google and Google users think carefully about whether it's time to shift from ad-supported free services toward paid services"

"The tiny screen, camera, and speaker built into Project Glass' computerized, networked glasses means electronic information can be woven directly into people's interactions with the physical world. What sorts of information? Google isn't promising anything yet, but obvious possibilities include live navigation directions and coupon offers for nearby stores..."

"The way to think of hardware at Google is not as a bunch of artfully packaged electronic bits and pieces that can be sold for a profit. Instead, hardware is like Android and Chrome: a means to an end"

Read on - there's a lot more here.

Posted by Gerd Leonhard at 6:33 PM in Bottom Lines, Google, Networked Society | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

The web is shifting to MOBILE very quickly: mobilize or become irrelevant!

Some relevant stats collected from several sources: 1) EMarketer 2) The Economist 3) Discover Magazine 4) my own (and Cisco stat). Chew on this and then go mobile, first:)

Posted by Gerd Leonhard at 4:43 PM in Bottom Lines, Broadband Culture, Future of Marketing, Future of Media, Future of Money, Internet of Things, Link Economy, Made me think, Mobile, Mobile Advertising, Mobility, Monetizing Content | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Article: 3 Characteristics Of Responsible Corporate Citizens | Co.Exist

Very good point below: tell the truth, anyway. Regardless.

3 Characteristics Of Responsible Corporate Citizens | Co.Exist: World changing ideas and innovation

With the interconnectedness of our modern culture and mobile phoned-armed citizens becoming real-time neo-whistleblowers, companies that deviate from the truth are being slammed faster and harder than ever before. The simple solution: tell the truth. And if the truth is not pretty, tell it anyway. And then tell us what you’re going to do about it.

(via Instapaper)

Posted by Gerd Leonhard at 5:03 PM in Bottom Lines | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

When will we start driving like this (I look forward to that moment...)

From Discover Magazine

Posted by Gerd Leonhard at 1:20 PM in Bottom Lines, Future of Cities | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Change is becoming much faster now (the suddenly-off-the-cliff effect)

This graph, below, reflects a growing trend and interesting phenomena that I have observed with many business that are impacted by the dramatically accelerating disruption brought on by digital technologies. For many incumbents, it may often look like 'things will be OK, regardless (i.e. we still sell a lot of XYZ - why worry)' but when a certain pivot point is actually reached (as below, in US newspaper ad revenues, around 2006), the entire business logic suddenly falls off the cliff, at which point it is often too late to still re-invent from a position of strength.

The lessons: foresight is crucial, and should be part of everyone's job. Look for likely change when your business is still doing well. Anticipate disruptions.

Posted by Gerd Leonhard at 3:35 PM in Bottom Lines, CHANGE, Future of News, Print & Newspapers | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Epiphany moment: Pay-Will not Pay-Wall! The future of content

A key slide from my last presentation: what publishers need to create is not pay-walls, it's pay-wills. See Netflix, Kindle, Popular Science, TheGuardian, LinkedIn, Spotify... :) ask me if you want to know more, or go here.

Posted by Gerd Leonhard at 12:19 PM in Bottom Lines, Consumer Insights, Content 2.0, Control Fights, epiphanies, Future of Broadcasting, Future of Cable TV, Future of Content, Future of Media | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Made me think: Article: From Smart House to Networked Home | WFS

Take a look at this interesting piece: From Smart House to Networked Home | World Future Society

"Personal devices will be largely untethered from wired power and data connections" My comment: first wireless broadband sets us free, then wireless power empowers us-- but then we become prisoners of the cloud (aka the grid) ...?

Get my free iPhone & Android apps http://mobileroadie.com/apps/Futurist

Posted by Gerd Leonhard at 8:57 PM in Bottom Lines, Data is the new Oil | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

My personal four-way test (picture from Nikko, Japan)

Here are 4 principles I try to apply to everything I do :)

I took this photo in Nikko / Japan btw, myself, in 2010

4 paradigms I try to adhere to

Posted by Gerd Leonhard at 2:17 PM in About Me, Bottom Lines, Branding, Wisdoms | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Watch out - the deer now have guns! (great meme!!)

"Institutions are not in control anymore. The digital revolution has given guns to the deer, and they don't hesitate to use them. This loss of control has rocked media but it has penetrated all of society."

via www.guardian.co.uk

Great way to put it!! Picture via Flickr/lynetter -- Thanks!!

Posted by Gerd Leonhard at 4:20 PM in Bottom Lines, Future of Content, Future of Media, MEMES, Trends | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Made me think: You Are Not A Computer (Tony Schwartz - via Harvard Business Review)

Some very valid points in this piece excerpted below, but here are 2 quick thoughts and rebuttals from me:

1) every human is different- some can juggle many things and take in loads of data and information, and others can't (or less so)

2) some of these issues can be solved by having better filters and curation that comes to the rescue.

Your thoughts ?

You Are Not A Computer (Try As You May) - Tony Schwartz - Harvard Business Review

"What makes human beings unique is our capacity for reflection, and self-reflection, but also for creativity, conscience, empathy, and a higher purpose. Those are the qualities we ought to be cultivating..."

Get my free iPhone & Android apps http://mobileroadie.com/apps/Futurist

Posted by Gerd Leonhard at 5:28 PM in Bottom Lines, Made me think | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

The Open Web Is Dead – Long live the Open Web. Good read by Chris Saad: lead don't just cheerlead !

Insightful post, below. Main point for me: LEAD don't just cheerlead ;)

The Open Web Is Dead – Long live the Open Web | Chris Saad

Lead not just cheerlead
In our obsession with being seen by our micro-audiences as ‘thought leaders’ or ‘futurists’ it’s always very tempting to watch which way the wind is blowing and shout loudly that THERE is the future. Like a weather vane, it’s easy to point the way the wind is blowing, but our biggest, best opportunity is not to declare a popular service ‘the next big thing’ just because a few visible people are hanging out there. Rather our collective and individual responsibility is to help articulate a direction we think moves the state of the art forward for both the web and for society at large. Something, as leaders of this field, we believe in. Just like VCs develop an investment thesis, we should all have a vision for where the web is going (and how it should get there) and actively seek out, support and promote quiet heros who are building something that moves the needle in the right direction.