Remember the first version of the Microsoft Surface? The version that was aptly named the ‘Table Computer’. Lenovo has just introduced their version of the table computer at CES 2013. Key talking points – it is a large flat screen, running Windows 8, with multi-touch capabilities. Another play towards taking the computer from a personal to a social device.
Here is a CNET review:
Here is the original Microsoft Surface:
One of my research papers was recently nominated as a candidate for the Best Paper award at the 2012 International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS), the flagship conference and most prestigious gathering of information systems researchers in the world. Titled “Juggling Paradoxical Strategies: The Emergent Role of IT Capabilities”, the paper has been co-authored with Benn Konsynski, the George S. Craft Distinguished University Professor of Information Systems & Operations Management at Emory University. In this study, we assert that in the 21st century, different IT capabilities act in differing ways to individually and jointly enable or impede firms to simultaneously pursue paradoxical strategies as an emergent means of attaining competitive advantage.
Paper presentation at ICIS 2012
Such an ability to follow two conflicting strategies at the same time is termed organizational ambidexterity. Firms which concurrently engage in the paradoxical strategies of exploration (or radical innovation) and exploitation (or incremental innovation) are able to address the needs of new and existing customers and thereby attain higher competitive performance. Our research finds that Transform IT capability, which leads to redefining and recreating business practices, strongly supports this instance of ambidexterity. On the other hand, IT Informate Capability, which results in greater information access across the organization, and IT Automate Capability, which facilitates automation of existing business processes, both hamper ambidexterity by ossifying business processes and reducing flexibility. Transform IT capability reduces these harmful effects. Our findings also suggest that a balance of IT Automate, Informate and Transform capabilities enables organizational ambidexterity, hitherto a challenging competitive possibility.
Data for the study was gathered from 352 manufacturing firms of all sizes in high growth sectors in India – a setting that provides an exemplar for the world’s enterprises undergoing rapid changes in the 21st century. These findings not only showcase the emergent role of IT in facing the complexities inherent in juggling paradoxical strategies, but also throw light upon previously unexplained variance in IT payoffs in the emerging economy and small and medium enterprise contexts.
A link to the paper in the conference proceedings is here.
Key tech trends include wearable computing, contextual apps, big data and maturation of social networks.
Futurologist Robert Scoble has predicted four major tech trends – wearable computing (see my previous posts here), contextual apps, Big Data (see previous posts here), and social network maturation.
future (Photo credit: Sean MacEntee)
While these trends will surely change commerce practice in the coming years, the nexus of these trends will be immensely disruptive. Think convergence – contextual apps on wearable computers that provide services based on real-time analysis of social and location data, delivered via omnipresent wireless internet access.
Wearable computing: Think Google Glasses or Motorola Solutions’ new HC1 headset computer that you attach to your head and operate with voice commands
The “open world”: Android’s relative openness has encouraged “contextual apps” to emerge from the woodwork. “Apple doesn’t let them [developers] talk to the WiFi radio or bluetooth radio,” said Scoble.
Weird databases and the rise of “big data”: “We are seeing weird databases spring up like mushrooms,” said Scoble. These include NoSQL, Firebase, and MongoDB.
The maturation of social networks: The leading social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are accumulating a massive store of user-generated data. What will they do with it?
Read more at http://venturebeat.com/2012/10/24/scoble-kawasaki/#B8hsX6orKpglPyWy.99
Gartner predicts that worldwide IT spend will reach $3.7 trillion in 2013.
Worldwide IT spending is forecast to surpass $3.7 trillion in 2013, a 3.8 percent increase from 2012 projected spending of $3.6 trillion,
from Gartner Says Big Data Creates Big Jobs: 4.4 Million IT Jobs Globally to Support Big Data By 2015
Big Data will contribute a small share of this total spend.
English: Gartner Research’s Hype Cycle diagram (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Big data will drive $28 billion of worldwide IT spending in 2012, according to Gartner, Inc. In 2013, big data is forecast to drive $34 billion of IT spending.
from Gartner Says Big Data Will Drive $28 Billion of IT Spending in 2012
However, an increasing proportion of worldwide IT spend will be outside traditional IT budgets, leading to the rise of new organizational roles and responsibilities in the area of digital strategy.
Twelve years ago technology spending outside of IT was 20 percent of total technology spending; it will become almost 90 percent by the end of the decade,
Gartner predicts that by 2015, 25 percent of organizations will have a Chief Digital Officer.
from Gartner Says Every Budget is Becoming an IT Budget
Other key forecasts include the proliferation of mobile devices, leading to a BYOD, mobile work culture.
In 2016, more than 1.6 billion smart mobile devices will be purchased globally. Two-thirds of the mobile workforce will own a smartphone, and 40 percent of the workforce will be mobile.
by 2018, 70 percent of mobile workers will use a tablet or a hybrid device that has tablet-like characteristics.
Gartner predicts that in three years, 10 organizations will each spend more than $1 billion on social media.
from Gartner Says Big Data Creates Big Jobs: 4.4 Million IT Jobs Globally to Support Big Data By 2015
A list of resources for building Apps for Windows 8
One of the biggest criticisms of Windows 8 has been the lack of apps for the platform. [Besides the confusion that is reigning supreme due to Microsoft launching 3 different operating systems and app stores with the same / similar names].
Image via Microsoft
Microsoft has been ‘priming the pump’ by releasing a series of resources for developers. The ongoing BUILD development conference in Redmond is the first in a series of steps in this direction. Microsoft is also hosting Windows Store App Labs in 30 other physical locations around the globe.
With 10,000 apps and counting, the Windows App Store seems set for explosive growth. Below is a list of resources from Microsoft to help you get started:
Windows Store App Labs are physical locations in more than 30 cities where you can access Windows 8 devices, get design help, and meet with Windows experts to make your app great. All for free!
3. Sample code for printing from a Windows 8 App
To get your printing support started, all you need to do is to add these lines of code to your app.
// Register for print contract var printManager = Windows.Graphics.Printing.PrintManager.getForCurrentView(); printManager.onprinttaskrequested = onPrintTaskRequested; function onPrintTaskRequested(printEvent) { printEvent.request.createPrintTask("Print Sample", function (args) { args.setSource(MSApp.getHtmlPrintDocumentSource(document)); }); }
4. Code samples for Windows 8 Apps
This sample pack includes all the app code examples developed for Windows 8. The sample pack provides a convenient way to download all the samples at once. The samples in this sample pack are available in C#, C++, VB.NET, and JavaScript
5. Documentation for the Windows 8 App Store
Includes a Getting Started article.
Begin building Windows apps quickly and easily. Our getting started guide walks you through the essentials of writing your first app.
6. Code samples for Windows Phone 8
The Windows Phone SDK 8.0 enables you to develop apps for Windows Phone 8 and Windows Phone 7.5 devices
8. To top it all registration for the Windows Phone 8 Developer Center has been dropped to $8 for the next 8 days (instead of the usual $100).
Windows Phone 8 is out, the tools are available, and devices are about to be released—it’s time to get coding. As an added incentive, for the next 8 days individual developers can register for a Dev Center account for just $8 (a 92 percent savings). Please note because this is a very limited time offer. You’ll be charged $99 USD or equivalent in your local currency, and we’ll refund the difference in the next 30 to 45 days. Watch for more details on Dev Center soon.
Nestle has utilized geolocation technology to run a ‘We Will Find You’ campaign in the UK. Nestle has put GPS transmitters inside chocolate bars. If a consumer opens such a bar, the GPS will be activated and within 24 hours, the consumer will be trackeddown and paid 10,000 pounds.
English: A Nestle Aero Mint bar split in half. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
An interesting use of geolocation technology – Nestle claims that it is the first to use this technology in such a manner. However, the ad and campaign seem to be too focused on the ‘coolness’ of the technology itself and raises concerns regarding privacy and what will come next.
Google’s home page has a link to the Google Cultural Institute – a wonderful repository of 20th century history. This impressive initiative by Google, which “helps preserve and promote culture online”, is in line with Google’s mission to”organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.” Talk about strategic alignment!
Box.net start screen (iPad) (Photo credit: Rob Enslin)
Box has just announced a series of updates that revolve around providing a more ‘social’ experience to its users.
These updates are clearly aimed at gaining more enterprise customers for Box by enabling more interaction and engagement and making it easier for sharing and collaboration. However, many enterprise customers will value utility over the ‘Facebookisation’ of Box. This is where the new enhanced search functionality, and the ability to edit documents from within the application are potential game-changers. Below is a video detailing these changes.
On the whole, Box needs to maintain a fine balance – by incorporating a much-needed social fabric (and the ensuing chaos, privacy concerns, information overload), it risks loosing its key differentiation factor with its main competition Dropbox – of being a no-nonsense, secure, enterprise oriented service.
Apple paid tribute to Steve Jobs on the one-year anniversary of his death by posted the below memorial video, titled “Remembering Steve”, on its home page.
As I wrote a year ago, very few people have had such a profound impact on the world as Steve Jobs.
Very few people have had such a profound impact on the world as Steve Jobs. On his passing, we have lost a champion – the Da Vinci and Edison of our times. As the creative genius behind Apple and Pixar, Steve Jobs was a pioneer of the digital age. His creations, ideas and simple elegant solutions touched the lives of millions of people. His legacy will inspire countless others to try to change the world and make it a better place.
Thank you for everything. Rest in Peace Steve.
Apple is not the only one looking to make money off the iPhone 5. Amazon has sent the following email to its customers:
The email links to this page.
