How to make sense of the future - futurist methodology

Try to predict or just respond when change happens. Mining, pharmacueutical industry etc takes very long view. Pensions crisis seen decades ago. Telecom and IT trends are often relatively obvious. Moore's Law. Power of computing. Cost of phone calls. Cost of flying and process of globalisation. Older generation knew form globalization and global communications. Internet was around in late 1970s. But Google and YouTube leaders recognise that behavior can be very hard to predict. Trends analysis. Conference keynote speaker and Futurist Dr Patrick Dixon.

Social and demographic / lifestyle trends -- impact on ...

Need for students to understand demographic challenges, global challenges. Issues of injustice (perceived) and potential for future conflicts. Example of oil industry in Nigeria. Militant activists, moral passion, attacks, sabotage, kidnapping, security issues. Small numbers of activists will have huge power in tomorrow's world. Video on future of education, high schools, colleges, universities, curriculum, trends, syllabus, exams, assessments, business schools, MBAs, degree courses - by Dr Patrick Dixon, Futurist conference keynote speaker for NAIS.

New UK threat to traditional telecom companies

Phone users in the UK will soon be able to make on-the-move calls over the Web, posing a new threat to mobile phone companies.  The internet phone corporation Vonage and WiFi hotspot operator The Cloud will launch a new service allowing Vonage subscribers with special WFi mobile handsets to make calls at landline rates from any of The Clouds hotspots in Britain.  Meanwhile Skype now has 100 million active users, all able to phone each other for free, with new companies offering Skype add ons such as instant teleconferencing for up to 500 people.  It all means further headaches for traditional telecom companies who are struggling already to catch up with what consumers are doing, and is part of a rapidly changing landscape for communications.

Expect ordinary telecom call costs to continue to fall towards zero, with further pressure on prices of premium services such as video over mobile.

 

Skype Partners For Webcam Sales

Skype has launched a video-enabled addition to the free telephone service after being bought recently by e-Bay. It works well and is a fast, easy way to get low cost videolinks but does not yet rival traditional videoconference software. Logitech and Creative joined Skype on Thursday to co-market the Luxembourg-based VoIP developer's newest software with their cameras and headsets. Skype has released the beta version of Skype 2.0, which features integrated video calling.

Skype worked with Logitech and Creative to ensure that their webcams would function properly with new video functions of Skype 2.0. Many of Logitech's QuickCam range of webcams have been certified to work with Skype 2.0, including Fusion, Orbit, Pro, Zoom, and Notebooks Pro models. Creative, meanwhile, has introduced the Creative WebCam Instant Skype Edition, which bundles a webcam with headset, Skype, and a stand-alone microphone. Creative's Skype-certified webcams will be available at retailers in Europe, while Logitech's can be purchased through the Skype online store. Skype 2.0 can be downloaded from the Skype Web site.