Computing and Tablet Technology

PC World's Ian Paul recent article asked, "2010: The Year of the Tablet Computer ?" . That is a good question Ian. RobiNZ CAD Blog asked in 2007 if 2008 was the year of the Tablet as well.  The theoretical applications of technologies as opposed to their practical adoption is something we all have witnessed. Given the increasing level of news and rumors around tablets, with dozens of new tablet devices planning to launch, one would wonder if the movement to wide spread adoption of tablets is here and why ?

Enter MIT's Press Journal's Designs Issues article "A Bitter Pill to Swallow: The Rise and Fall of the Tablet Computer", wherein Paul Atkison, who oversses 3D design for the School of Art and Design and Architecture at the University of Huddersfield, UK, correctly identifies how the anticipated adoption of tablet computing beginning as early as the 1980's. It was widely reported in 1991 that, "Nearly every major maker of computers has some type of pen-based machine in the works." Paul's article shares great insight into how factors can impede the adoption of technologies.

As Jasper's recent article "Why Tablet PC's Have Failed and Will Fail" attests that Atkison's work "presents an insightful, amusing and at times depressing analysis of the rise and fall of the tablet computer, from the early pen computing of the RAND tablet, via the Momenta Pentop, to the inevitable Apple Newton Messagepad." Jasper's right; its worth a read.

Contrary to Jasper's view its a new day, as technologies around tablets have advanced considerably during the past decade. The reason these new devices may become accepted and successful over the years relates to a few key drivers: High speed Internet ubiquity, consumer mobility adoption, and indeed as Paul has observed - functional design. If price can be market relevant there is a real opportunity for this product category to catch fire. Watch how new tablet technologies like Microsoft's rumored "Courier", which are going to be unveiled in the coming months ahead, can be relevant to your life. Another good reason to get excited about this emerging technology.

Technology Adoption & the Age Myth

As I evangelize around the upcoming surge in innovation driven by technology and globalism one topic that is often raised is the issue of how older people are unable or unwilling to adapt to the change brought on by technologies. Hence, the rapid states of change I predict are unlikely because of this "age" phenomenon.

Focus on the 50 and over crowd regarding technology was explored in a recent marketing research project sponsored by AARP and Microsoft. 60 people in total gathered for dinner and after-dinner discussions about their attitudes toward, use of and expectations for technology. The focus group sessions were in four cities: San Francisco, Phoenix, Chicago and New York. Participants ranged in age from 50 to 60. See the video recap below.

The conversations have been consolidated and published in a report  “Boomers and Technology: An Extended Conversation.” The project was directed by Michael Rogers, formerly the vice president for the Washington Post Company's new media division. Innovation and technological advacements are coming and in ways and in places that aren't about the young. They will meet real needs of an aging population as the video explains.

Mr. Rogers had some interesting findings, as disclosed in a recent NYT's article on the rearch. It included the following excerpt (please note the emphasis on medical records and health care):

“It surprised me how much boomer technology habits are still in flux.” In the past, he said, studies have shown that as people reach 60, “technology adoption falls off a cliff.” Not so with the boomers. They grew up with technology, he noted — they were in their teens to early 30s when the first Apple computers and IBM PCs appeared.

The dinner conversations, he said, suggested enthusiasm for cutting-edge gadgets with practical uses like microprojectors (also known as pico projectors) — pocket-sized devices that can take video and play it on any surface, turning a wall into a 50-inch screen.

Boomers, Mr. Rogers predicted, are also going to be the driving force behind the use of information technology in health care. The dinner attendees who had access to electronic health records, he said, were “just ecstatic” about the benefits of setting up appointments online, e-mailing doctors and reviewing their records over the Web. As they age themselves, the incentive for using technology tools to manage health and wellness programs grows as well.

The boomer's won't be an impediment to technology adoption. They'll be the significant drivers, as this research reflects. Innovation: bring it on. Us old folks are truly ready.

Mobile Devices Continue to Wow - Sony Ericsson's Android XPERIA

Mobility is at the core of a new round of innovation for businesses and the consumer.  Access to information whenever and wherever one is present is going to further empower the consumer and continue to fuel a shift to the merger of the digital and physical worlds.  The result being a continued and radical evolution of retail and other physically based business models across a wide swath of industries.

While Apple has delivered an exceptional product via the IPhone, theirs is not the only game in town as Android devices are beginning to rival the utility of IPhone - with the recent Sony Ericsson product being an example. By the way, you have to watch the video below to grasp the exceptional functionality of this device.

Sony Ericsson officially unveiled their first Android smartphone, the handset known as the Sony Ericsson Rachael (or Rachel), XPERIA X3 and X10 and – most recently – the Sony Ericsson Infinity.  We’ve already seen a video demo of what Sony Ericsson’s custom user interface might look like but now a second demo has recently appeared and Apple best take note.

Acceptance of Uncertainty Key to Effective Business Valuations

Rita McGrath, the esteemed professor and expert on discovery driven planning and growth concepts recently shared some excellent content on her blog regarding methods of calculating NPV. Watch the video link and learn how to evaluate and value opportunities given uncertainty and how the role of finance should be approached amid the unknown. Here is her post, watch the demo and learn:

My esteemed colleague, Mac, is featured describing the application of the “BareBones” NPV tool in this video.

Wal-Mart Is Learning to Love Social Media

In a recent post on THE BIG MONEY, Caitlin McDevitt shared the fear and experience Wal-Mart is having with face book. A sure sign that social media is entering the main stream. Here is some of what Caitline observed:

Wal-Mart has apparently quit worrying about the negative feedback it’s bound to get online. Instead, it’s trusting that its fan base will grow larger and louder than its detractors. The page now boasts slightly more than 200,000 fans. It has grown tenfold in just two months. And according to recent reports, Wal-Mart is in the process of launching what the executive vice president and chief marketing officer, Stephen Quinn, calls a “very big, significant initiative on Facebook.” It seems that the world’s biggest retailer is preparing to win over the Facebook community once and for all. Better late than never.

As mentioned during a recent presentation at MFA, the 4 P's of marketing (price, place, product, promotion), are being replaced with value exchange, merger of the digital & physical, experience and engagement. Promotion is no longer as ROI friendly and for Wal-Mart to recognize this by diving into social media just proves the point. Read Caitlin's article for more insights.