Welcome to this 81st 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 week from Banff, in Alberta, Canada. This is what I noticed these past couple of weeks, thank you for sharing this newsletter with those who look into the future.
Estelle.
Strategic blindspots
Looking at the familiar with “alien eyes” allows you to unlock new business model opportunities while avoiding risks stemming from strategic blindspots.
Share of old age population. Amazon launches clinics. Parents are missing work at record rates. Fintech fills a gap for divorced parents co-managing money. Fossil Vehicle Bans Are Likely to Hit Mom-&-Pop Gas Stations the Hardest. The crash dummy aimed at protecting women drivers. The Grab & Go lounge. 50 Cognitive Biases in the Modern World. Peering Into The Invisible Present and this quote:
Perceptions are distorted by selective memories, cognitive biases, political agendas and shifting baseline syndrome—the propensity of each generation to gradually forget past environmental conditions and accept present ones as normal.
Our future
Patented futures. Inferring the Future of AI Chips. France to require all large parking lots to be covered by solar panels. Federal suppliers would have to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions. Amazon’s next-generation Prime Air delivery drone can fly further and through ‘light’ rain. The country that will be gone by 2100. Monocle explores the new 'home-like' future of the office. The Economist’s Ten trends to watch in the coming year.
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?
TikTok Scores Influencers on Cooperation, Dilligence. UN announces high-tech, satellite-based global methane detection system. The $4,990 Ice Bath. AT&T Ends 411 Directory. Chipmaker TSMC plans Arizona factory expansion. Home Buyers Are Moving Farther Away Than Ever Before. Fake selfies. McDonald's have created the McCrispy Ultimate Gaming Chair, which features an integrated burger warmer and grease-proof leather. Volkswagen unveils drivable office chair that can travel up to 12mph. Diverse Santas.
Numbers
1- Devices, loud venues could cause hearing loss in 1 billion young people.
60- 60% of Gen Z and 56% of millennials plan to shop for holiday gifts on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube
8- 8 billion humans.
On my radar
The question of employee retention came on one of my advisory boards discussion recently and we discussed creative ways to attract and integrate talent: The rise of returnships. Contingent workers. Fractional CMOs.
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 went into Geo Tools.
Hodgepodge discovery
Articles for curious minds and the polymaths. Ballet dancers and shot putters.
Mapping Wikipedia. How the ‘Diamond of the Plant World’ Helped Land Plants Evolve. How tech can make work harder. The Scent of Flavor. Witch hunting. An introduction to Genomics. Twitter is doing great. How Facebook designed the like.
I like new words, this week I revisited the definitions of cybernetics.
Feeling good
Cleopatra's Tomb. Octopuses caught on camera throwing things at each other. Beautiful public data.
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