We are living through one of the most startling demographic shifts in history.
Ad Contrarian reports, using a Business Insider chart, that in 1950, there were 3x as many under 5s as there were over-65s. By 2050, there will be 2x as many oldies (over 65) as young-uns (under 5).
This amazing talk from NYU Stern professor Scott Galloway covers how Amazon, Facebook, Apple and Google are dominating the world. It particularly focuses on the consequences for the users, and is full of amazing soundbites as well as predictions on how each of the 4 companies could become the first $1 trillion company in history.
Boris Johnson has followed in the footsteps of a long line of politicians writing political biographies. Johnson chose Churchill, not because Churchill needs another biography – or even a hagiography – but because Johnson is desperate to cast himself as Churchill’s spiritual heir as he positions himself for Tory party leadership (which, by the vagaries of the British constitution, would also make him Prime Minister.)
I was recently invited back on BBC Radio 4’s Start the Week programme to discuss the role of videogames in forming friendships and maintaining relationships.
The context was that the lead guest was Dr Susan Pinker, who has recently released a book called The Village Effect. Dr Pinker argues that we all need to spend time face-to-face to make us live longer, be happier and have fewer illnesses. Although Dr Pinker says that she is not against technology, that is not how her book comes across.
I was recently spoke at the FT Digital Media Conference and was asked for my thoughts on the future of consoles. I argued that the current crop of consoles are trying to control the living room, just as the actual battleground shifts to who owns the relationship with devices in people’s pockets (smartphones) and bags (tablets). You can see the full video below.
I was interviewed on the BBC’s flagship current affairs programme, Today, this morning about the IPO of King, the makers of the phenomenally successful Candy Crush Saga.
There’s a lot to get into the 3 minute segment. I did my best. You can hear it on the BBC website for the next 7 days. The Candy Crush Saga segments starts at 23:00.
I’ve pitched my ideas about the curve to a book publisher and a rights owner in the last couple of days.
One big theme has emerged. The people who own content hand it over to a retailer (either directly or at the end of a chain of middle men) to sell to customers. If that retailer is good (like Amazon) it will know its customer. If it is not so good, it will know nothing about the customer at all. No understanding of loyalty, of average spend per month, of what or how to merchandise to that customer.