Welcome to this 85th issue of our newsletter “Weak Signals and other Trends”. Each week, I sift through hundreds of sources of inspiration to track where we’re heading. If you are a new subscriber to this newsletter, take the time to send me a note and introduce yourself, I love to understand who is reading.
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I am sending this newsletter this Friday from Miami, Florida. The next newsletter will be the last one for the year, then we’ll resume in 2023 with a bi-monthly version. This is what I noticed this week, thank you for sharing this newsletter with those who look into the future.
Estelle.
Competitive Intelligence
Conversational searching. A Search tool to help control your online presence. Alt investors using alternative data to gain an edge. The data central banks use to forecast. Instant background check.
We have scheduled the dates for 2023 for our courses. “Advanced Search Techniques for Competitive and Customer Intelligence” will be offered on February 15, 2023. Registrations are now open.
Strategic blindspots
Looking at the familiar with “alien eyes” allows you to unlock new business model opportunities while avoiding risks stemming from strategic blindspots.
Global shipping nears 'all-out price war' as China trade falls fast. Amazon is co-opting the endless scroll to boost revenue. Young people are deciding to live paycheck-to-paycheck. Coca-Cola is getting into Christmas movies. You deserve more than $2 for running your phone’s h through Amazon. The Four Seasons launches a private jet airline. Automakers need way more plug-in stations to make their EV plans work. Post launches new digital stamp. The chat app you can only use when you have less than 5% battery. How Resale Saved New York Retail.
Our future
Satellite images show Saudi Arabia’s sci-fi megacity is well underway. Self-healing robot recovers from being stabbed then walks off. China’s Gen-Z Is Entering the Workforce. Employers Are Terrified. What humans will look like in 1000 years. France’s Plan To Ban Short-Haul Domestic Flights. Hindsight 2030.
2023 reports: Google’s year in search. Design trends for 2023. EY and Deloitte published their annual TMT predictions decks. The top 100 new technology innovations of 2022. Instagram Offers Its Predictions on Generation Z Trends for 2023.
We keep you updated on those trends and more on Twitter.
Weak signals
Weak signals are indicators of a change, a trend or an emerging risk that might become significant for the future. They allow us to run hypothesis, expand our thinking, and challenge assumptions. How will you interpret those in your industry or field of expertise?
The rightness of Americans. Heavenbanning. Locating the frigate with snapchat. Just what are ‘returnships’ and why are they trending right now? ATM machine publicly ranks & displays a person's bank balance. Digital boosts. Apple will no longer ban employees from discussing harassment and discrimination in the workplace. Dyson has a $1k battery-powered headphone/face mask/air purifier thing. Pet anxiety beds. Keurig Dr Pepper Demands 360-Day Payment Terms in RFP.
Numbers
37%—Thirty-seven percent of the world’s population (2.9 billion people) have never used the Internet.
450—China is building 450 gigawatts of solar and wind power generation in the Gobi desert. That’s six times the total power generation capacity of the UK.
9- A bolt of lightning contains about ¼ of a kilowatt-hour of power. Even with recent energy price rises, it’s only worth about 9 pence.
Down the rabbit hole
This section highlights a subject that lead me to many useful threads, or a single site, that opened many doors: “A rabbit hole is not a distraction. A rabbit hole is your brain trying to tell you to pay attention to something you’re curious about. Ignore algorithmic rabbit holes” ( by are.na)
This week, I discovered: the Gen-Z fieldguide.
Hodgepodge discovery
Articles for curious minds and the polymaths
The things people count. Product branding emerged in ancient Mesopotamia 5000 years ago. Trademarking “THE”. Clutter rating. Detectorists locate this famous pirat’s hiding place. What Fingerprints Tell Us About Jerusalem’s Ancient Artisans. The world map of the future might be vertical . Superfans and microtribes. The future of effective altruism. The Four Desires Driving All Human Behavior. Behavior-changing parasite moves wolves to the head of the pack.
Feeling good
The library that brought the city together. The most popular toy the year you were born. Obsolete sounds.
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