Sadvertising, Baader-Meinhof, and cloud squatters
Sadvertising, Baader-Meinhof, and cloud squatters
May 13, 2022
Welcome to this 57th 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.
Join us on Clubhouse to discuss how to interpret some of those trends and weak signals most Saturdays at 9 am EST (we’re on tomorrow).
You can subscribe to this weekly newsletter here to get it directly by mail.
This is what I noticed this week, thank you for sharing this newsletter to those who look into the future.
Competitive Search and Analysis
‘Cloud squatters’ find data meant for previous tenants. The Future of Search Is Boutique. Immersive view coming soon to Maps. Google’s new ‘multisearch’. Attribute Analytics. Tops for conducting ethnographies. Websites See What You Type—Before You Hit Submit.
Strategic blindspots
Looking at the familiar with “alien eyes” allows you to unlock new business model opportunities while avoiding risks stemming from strategic blindspots.
The Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon. The flower business is wilting. Actual Adults Are Buying Tricycles. The dangers of apophenia. ‘Airbnb for pools’. German Automakers Ditch Car-Sharing. Smart Office Buildings Can Help Sniff Out Viruses but Are Vulnerable to Hacks. Google making smartwatch. Formula fiasco. Amazon’s surprising new delivery partners: Rural mom-and-pop shops. Hotels and Resorts Pivot to Hosting TV Productions in Pandemic.
We have scheduled the dates for 2022 for our “Strategic Blindspot course . Our next course will be offered in Montreal on October 26-27, 2022. Registrations are now open.
Our future
These seed-firing drones are planting 40,000 trees every day. People trust AI fake faces more than real ones. Food in 2025. Self-driving cars will need smarter roadways. Pods Allow 14 Residents to Share Single House. A visit to the human factory. Full-genome screening for newborn babies is now on the cards. You Can Now Sign Away Rights to Your Biometric Data. How US consumers are feeling, shopping, and spending. The future of skills, by Linkedin. Digital twins in cockpits will help planes look after themselves.
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 Rise Of Sadvertising. Hot ones. When lawns are banned. Airbnb’s huge summer update preps for a new era of travel. Airbnb summer updates. Fantastical skyscrapers. Royal Mail ramps up drone deliveries. Google’s Little Signals concepts. House-flipping algorithms. The EU tunnel. The inheritance pass. Suspended buildings. Space balloon company offers first look at luxury cabins. In-browser Fortnite. Nightclub chaos. Google’s conference. Remittance by the barrel.
Join us to discuss those trends and signals most Saturday at 9am EST on Clubhouse. We have a panel of futurists that illustrate what those signals might mean, and a fantastic group of curious minds in the room.
On our radar
I have facilitated last week a two-day strategic planning seminar for a client who is designing its strategy for the next 5 years. This led us to consider how the future of the employer is shaping up in this talent shortage era: Hy-Vee cuts 500 more office positions. Employer ‘s health travel benefits. Pick an Industry, Not a Job. Amazon program at Cajon High offers students a path to careers in logistics. Freshii’s ‘virtual cashier’ works from Nicaragua.
Down the rabbit hole
This section highlights a subject that lead me to many useful threads, or a single site, that opened many doors.
This week, I went down the rabbit hole into how Felix consolidated and analyzed his personal data.
Hodgepodge discovery
Articles for curious minds and the polymaths …
Netflix’s Big Power Clash and Rivalries Behind the Crash. The argument for a permanent Olympic City. What happened to the Montreal Melon. How blogs are related. The Confounding Politics of Camping in America. Devouring the Heart of Portugal. Translating the title. How some big grocery chains help ensure that food deserts stay barren. When Animals Shed Their Wings.
Feeling Good
Everyone, everywhere. The living typeface. The world regret survey. The World From Home. Can you reach net zero? OOO. The hubless rear wheel. Instructables.
Share your favorite issues of the newsletter, or send friends - or random strangers…
And do not miss the next issue:
Contact me at Competia with your feedback or ideas. Thank you for reading.