Digigram Newsletter of March 2021
This is my wishlist for post-COVID tech trends. Gert Christen’s Digigram Newsletter of March 2021
This is my wishlist for post-COVID tech trends. Gert Christen’s Digigram Newsletter of March 2021
I’ve started seeing COVID influences on technology and how it’s being used. A sure sign that this plague is dramatic, disruptive, and consequential. And, therefore, it’s relevant when thinking about strategy.
I see COVID influences in three areas:
The first part of this edition continues the topic from the last newsletter, and identifies two additional marks of disruption:
The last Digigram explored “COVID Tech,” which helps us stay productive during COVID. Perhaps the biggest surprise is that 100% remote work works reasonably well. Not for creative work, where serendipitous strokes of genius don’t happen as often when apart, but it’s OK for the other 80% of our work. And companies took advantage. They’re saving money by moving jobs to lower-cost regions, attracting new talent by offering 100% remote jobs, and slashing expenses by not renting and offering a workplace. Good tactical moves! Once COVID is over, will we go back to normal? With office cubicles, the water cooler, and all? Or will we build on what we got used to and move on to what comes next—virtual-working? Remote workers could benefit from an additional layer, such as augmented reality. It doesn’t have to be a full-blown holodeck, but AR could improve the working experience, create a team atmosphere, and spark more of those “lightbulb” genius moments. I predict that after a year of acclimatization to Zoom, going entirely virtual is not a big …
Two years ago I wanted to raise awareness for the digital revolution and its influence on our lives. So I invited digital startups as “Digital Lifestyle Showcases” to Startupfair. What has happened since? Did new digital technologies change our lives for the better? Or are there reasons to be scared of the oncoming digital tsunami? Time to assess for an update: Digital technologies indeed started solving some previously unsolvable problems. Digital technologies have matured from standalone concepts to integral parts of real world applications. Some of the Startupfair showcases already transformed their field, many have grown into respectable businesses. What I didn’t see coming: Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain as new two powerful enabling technologies. “Today’s confluence of new digital technologies, new devices and people’s lifestyle preferences is a revolution and offers vast opportunities for innovation, new businesses, and a better life”, is how I started my post two years ago. And fundamentally nothing has changed: Moore’s law continues to advance miniaturization, which in turns allows for ever smaller devices with ever larger capabilities! And with this, new digital technologies are being adopted by more and more users for many different applications. …