smartwatch
The Apple-fueled Smartwatch hype and the “good times” for surveillance
Since Edward Snowden has begun to reveal the dimensions of the mass surveillance conducted by intelligence agencies, the awareness for the pitfalls of the digital age has increased significantly. At least among many tech savvy creators and consumers, the initial child-like curiosity about the new possibilities has been replaced to some degree by a more nuanced view. While optimism among this group remains, there is now at least somewhat of a real consensus about the possible threat of a full-fledged future surveillance society.
Unfortunately, acknowledging this threat and actively doing something against it are two very different things. According to some surveys, some changes in user behaviour have occurred in the Post-Snowden era. However, the convenience, excitement and temptation of further integration of digital technology as well as the real potential of large-scale improvements in life quality, education, health and finance for people all around the world, mean that we keep getting closer to the dystopic picture painted by sceptics. A bit end-to-end encryption here and there won’t change that. I myself am as guilty in this as most other people. I might write a text like this one, but an hour later check my smartphone’s fitness tracking app to learn about my running performance. It is a dilemma in which a real solution seems to be completely out of reach. Continue Reading
Do you want to be the guy or girl sitting at the café playing with your watch?
The presentation and upcoming launch of the Apple Watch has put a major spotlight on the smartwatch category. There still are many questions about the market potential of the category overall as well as about the potential of Apple’s new gadget, which the company tries to position against classic high-end and luxury watches instead of other smartwatches.
According to some comments I have read in the wake of the Apple Watch presentation, one of the alleged benefits of mini-computer watches is that this new kind of product frees us from our smartphones. Smartwatches in general and the Apple Watch specifically would reduce the need to pull out the phone. This would save people time and give them back some awareness about their environments, since they would just perform brief glances on their watch, instead of being glued to their smartphone displays for extensive amounts of time. Continue Reading
Pebble’s most recent crowdfunding success proves that pull manufacturing is the future
Some weeks ago I wrote about the many disadvantages of physical retail and why we should abandon it immediately if we could (which we cannot yet for socioeconomic reasons). One thing I did not mention in that post but which most likely will play a crucial role in changes to come for retail is the rise of product manufacturing based on specific demand. One could also call it the switch from push to pull manufacturing.
Until now, most products were produced by companies that could not be sure whether all or even a high percentage of units would be sold. Instead, guess work, predictive market research and individual opinions decided about volumes. Then placements in stores combined with different marketing activities were used to create demand and generate sales. The existing products were “pushed” into the people’s field of attention in the hope that people would buy. Continue Reading