Tuesday, 21 August 2007
Friday, 17 August 2007
It's possible for all to play in the Global IT market
Excitedly, I picked up the recent Business Week top 100 IT companies in July …(yes I’m one of those people that still gets excited about those kind of lists)…..it’s always interesting to see who the great movers and shakers are, particularly in this rapidly changing IT world ….it could be anybody’s game right now. One thing that struck me more than ever is how ‘global’ the top 100 is and also the range of markets that they cover…The IT industry is now truly global developing exciting leading edge technolgies in an array of countries from Spain and Russia to Mexico. Perhaps surprisingly, the US only had 7 entrants in the top 20 and Asia Pac just 3…And also whilst the usual brand names are in there such as EMC, Cisco and the like, there are others much lesser known names who I expect we will hear much more about long-term such as Telenor,Tata Consultancy Services and Softbank – also giants in their own right but lesser known than their US counterparts. What also struck me in this latest global 100 tech report is the diversity of technologies and markets - from mobile technology to outsourcing through to web-based companies….I expect that next time we will see more web and online companies in that list…
Today, a truly global market…we’ve all got a part to play on this international stage where it’s possible for even small companies to do global business.
SCG
Excitedly, I picked up the recent Business Week top 100 IT companies in July …(yes I’m one of those people that still gets excited about those kind of lists)…..it’s always interesting to see who the great movers and shakers are, particularly in this rapidly changing IT world ….it could be anybody’s game right now. One thing that struck me more than ever is how ‘global’ the top 100 is and also the range of markets that they cover…The IT industry is now truly global developing exciting leading edge technolgies in an array of countries from Spain and Russia to Mexico. Perhaps surprisingly, the US only had 7 entrants in the top 20 and Asia Pac just 3…And also whilst the usual brand names are in there such as EMC, Cisco and the like, there are others much lesser known names who I expect we will hear much more about long-term such as Telenor,Tata Consultancy Services and Softbank – also giants in their own right but lesser known than their US counterparts. What also struck me in this latest global 100 tech report is the diversity of technologies and markets - from mobile technology to outsourcing through to web-based companies….I expect that next time we will see more web and online companies in that list…
Today, a truly global market…we’ve all got a part to play on this international stage where it’s possible for even small companies to do global business.
SCG
Wednesday, 15 August 2007
Second Life Cut Short?
They build em up only to knock em down. The backlash to Second Life is breaking through into the nationals. The consensus here is that once you're in there Second Life resembles a post-apocalyptic wasteland rather than a shiny bustling virtual world. And our French colleagues confirm its flopped over there.
But like many other things in technology its death may be exaggerated. Look at how the good old computer terminal/mainframe server model is being reinvented into the green computing thin client wonder device.
Expect to see Second Life technology concepts popping up in other guises.
But like many other things in technology its death may be exaggerated. Look at how the good old computer terminal/mainframe server model is being reinvented into the green computing thin client wonder device.
Expect to see Second Life technology concepts popping up in other guises.
Friday, 3 August 2007
Simpsonized yet?
Sadly, there are some dreams that we eventually have to admit to ourselves will never come true. I very much doubt that I will be selected for the Manchester United first team any time soon, and probably less likely to become a pop star although X-Factor does offer me some hope.
I have however today finally fulfilled one of my life long dreams, to become a Simpsons character!
Using the Simpsonizer, an online web application sponsored by Burger King, I was able to upload a photo of myself and within ten minutes I was Simpsonized.
This is a great example of viral marketing in action and although not completely original, it has definitely got everyone talking about the new Simpsons movie, if not Burger King.
Me as a Simpsons character:
Sadly, there are some dreams that we eventually have to admit to ourselves will never come true. I very much doubt that I will be selected for the Manchester United first team any time soon, and probably less likely to become a pop star although X-Factor does offer me some hope.
I have however today finally fulfilled one of my life long dreams, to become a Simpsons character!
Using the Simpsonizer, an online web application sponsored by Burger King, I was able to upload a photo of myself and within ten minutes I was Simpsonized.
This is a great example of viral marketing in action and although not completely original, it has definitely got everyone talking about the new Simpsons movie, if not Burger King.
Me as a Simpsons character:
Friday, 27 July 2007
The Web is Going Underground
We really like to order what we see. Look at the moon and the human mind sees a face. Look at a fluffy cloud and we see a Scottie dog or the shapelier parts of Pamela Anderson.
Visualising what the web looks like is another hardy perennial. Some attempts make the web look like an explosion frozen in time.
A new view adapts the principles of the London tube map to show the main stops on the Web and avoiding any attempt of illustrating the geographic realities like the actual distances between places. Read Jack Schofield's Grauniad blog for more
The result is fascinating though ultimately a bit depressing. Are we all running around this same closed loop of web sites, services and applications? Whatever happened to the web as some kind of limitless universe?
What's also interesting is who is stuck out on a suburban branch line - the equivalent of Epping - on the edge rather than the centre of the map.
Visualising what the web looks like is another hardy perennial. Some attempts make the web look like an explosion frozen in time.
A new view adapts the principles of the London tube map to show the main stops on the Web and avoiding any attempt of illustrating the geographic realities like the actual distances between places. Read Jack Schofield's Grauniad blog for more
The result is fascinating though ultimately a bit depressing. Are we all running around this same closed loop of web sites, services and applications? Whatever happened to the web as some kind of limitless universe?
What's also interesting is who is stuck out on a suburban branch line - the equivalent of Epping - on the edge rather than the centre of the map.
Monday, 23 July 2007
CSO pockets key to Executive Suite
An inevitable consequence of the green business movement cross fertilising with US corporate culture and its love of business status monikers is the first appearance of the CSO, Chief Sustainability Officer, on the ever lengthening listing of C-level titles. Or so says the New York Times.
Could it catch on over here? Probably, yes in a small way.
UK media scrutiny of green IT is sharpening with new media blogs like Dan Ilet's Greenbang putting the spotlight on business green practices including high level business strategy and public commitment to deliver results.
Getting sustainability on the board agenda is critical but C-level titles will probably impress few if any UK media commentators. They are increasingly looking for substance not style in business communications on this issue. This is probably why we are seeing a movement by UK business to move from talking about carbon off-setting to talking about real cuts in energy consumption.
CSO is a sign of the times but probably a passing fad. A CSO should be where the buck stops when other C-level roles like the CFO and CEO should have sustainability high on their agendas too.
Nonetheless expect more CSOs popping up in the media from now on.
Could it catch on over here? Probably, yes in a small way.
UK media scrutiny of green IT is sharpening with new media blogs like Dan Ilet's Greenbang putting the spotlight on business green practices including high level business strategy and public commitment to deliver results.
Getting sustainability on the board agenda is critical but C-level titles will probably impress few if any UK media commentators. They are increasingly looking for substance not style in business communications on this issue. This is probably why we are seeing a movement by UK business to move from talking about carbon off-setting to talking about real cuts in energy consumption.
CSO is a sign of the times but probably a passing fad. A CSO should be where the buck stops when other C-level roles like the CFO and CEO should have sustainability high on their agendas too.
Nonetheless expect more CSOs popping up in the media from now on.
Thursday, 12 July 2007
No apple smoothies for me please
There is a website called 'Will it blend' by blender maker, BlendTec which shows how in various experiments they blend all kind of crazy stuff like toys, cosmetics, a garden hose and yes.. finally the iPhone too.
When I first came across the site, I didn't think much of it but then realised that from a Web 2.0 perspective this is a very smart viral campaign by BlendTec.
The company creates an online video show called “Will It Blend” that ranks in 5 figures on Alexa, and has already blended a range of consumer goods. It’s very clever online marketing for a kitchenware company on one hand. On the other hand, iPhone fans like myself found it somewhat painful to watch. The one prominent topic in technology news has been the iPhone, so BlendTec is obviously taking advantage of the iPhone's fame to market their product.
Apparently BlendTec videos have collectively had something around 15million views on youtube.
Having watched the video a few times, I was actually surprised by how long the iPhone's screen holds on... much longer than expected! Roll on Christmas!
When I first came across the site, I didn't think much of it but then realised that from a Web 2.0 perspective this is a very smart viral campaign by BlendTec.
The company creates an online video show called “Will It Blend” that ranks in 5 figures on Alexa, and has already blended a range of consumer goods. It’s very clever online marketing for a kitchenware company on one hand. On the other hand, iPhone fans like myself found it somewhat painful to watch. The one prominent topic in technology news has been the iPhone, so BlendTec is obviously taking advantage of the iPhone's fame to market their product.
Apparently BlendTec videos have collectively had something around 15million views on youtube.
Having watched the video a few times, I was actually surprised by how long the iPhone's screen holds on... much longer than expected! Roll on Christmas!
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