This Week's 3 Bells
1 Trump v Tech 2 Tesla Not Motors 3 3DTV No
|
|
Donald Trump has barely been in office for 2 weeks and there is turmoil everywhere. His supposedly-temporary ban on immigration from 7 Muslim countries has caused outrage.
Most interestingly, America's tech industry was up in arms. Apple and Amazon are considering legal action; Google employees conducted protests; The CEOs of Facebook, Microsoft and Netflix have opposed the action. Why? Because America's business success is founded on immigration. Tech columnist Walt Mossberg, writing for The Verge, put it best: "The immigrants who did important, world-changing things did them here because this country welcomed them when others shunned them, or weren't as open." Trump's old-fashioned raising of walls and barriers is a primitive policy in a business world that has moved on from old-fashioned nativism. It will be America's undoing if he continues to implement this ban and make it even harsher.
|
|
|
There can be no sustained innovation without diversity. You need a multiplicity of ideas, insights and experiences if you are to create world-beating companies. Remember that for your organization, even if Donald Trump doesn't.
|
|
Tesla just announced it is dropping 'Motors' from its name, and will now just be known as Tesla Inc. Founder Elon Musk has combined his pathbreaking electric-car company with his pathbreaking solar-energy company, and wants to sell to car-owners and home-owners simultaneously.
The last time I saw a tech company drop something from its name, it went on to become the world's most valuable in an unprecedented spree of lateral growth. That was Apple, which dropped the
'Computer' tag a decade ago and then upended the music, phone, payments and watch industries, among many others. Modern tech-centred business has become like that: you can stretch your core capabilities across markets in ways that were previously unthinkable. I suspect Tesla will take its engine and battery technologies far beyond their original boundaries.
Photo credit: Tesla (adjusted)
|
|
|
The world's giant tech companies are all on a long-term strategy to dominate way beyond their initial plays. They will soon affect your sector, whatever and wherever it is. Stay woke, and stay interested.
|
|
When I bought a television set five years ago, 3D was all the rage. I was forced to buy one against my wishes, because it was built into every set being sold. Sales assistants would gush about the amazing viewing experience. Well, I couldn't see the point and never used the feature, even once.
Now Sony and LG have quietly announced they will stop integrating 3D capabilities into TV sets from this year. An LG executive said: "Purchase process research showed it's not a top buying consideration, and anecdotal information indicated that actual usage was not high." I could have told you that for free, boss. Why? Because to use 3DTV you have to buy and use special glasses, sit at particular viewing angles, and risk headaches. Most people just aren't going to do that at home. So bye bye 3DTV; see you again when you become user-friendly.
|
|
|
If you're investing in or launching a new product, never forget the golden rule: always pay deep attention to the user experience. That's where make or break happens.
|
|
|
|
