The next big thing?

Curtis Carlson - Founder of Siri - and Professor of Innovation - Worcester Polytechnic and northEastern University - points out that 

the next big thing seems to find a  battery to drive the growth of EV’s (electronic vehicles) - with VW and Gates soon launching Quantumscape after a $500m investment in a $4.3b battery startup.

Could this enable a 500 mile car with a 15 minute charge .... by significantly increasing the density of the battery and making it noncombustable and non flammable?

An effective chargeable battery will be a game changer  - they say- enabling a mass market transformation - 

Could this be like what LEDs did to lighting, microwave did to cooking or air travel did for globalisation ? 

Then  there are carbon nano tubes.  Some think that has even more potential. 

And then there are Small atomic plants  (of both types — fission and fusion).  They many end up being the most critical advances in human history. 

Good or bad ?

Are these energy densities of batteries dangerous? Could these be bombs?

Is this an issue? 

Could batteries address global warming? 

Curtis Carlson suggests that the combination of an effective battery and atomic power would solve most energy issues in a clean way.  Solar and wind are not good solutions in terms of land use and overall pollution.  The so called Green New Deal would be a disaster.

https://www.quantumscape.com

https://marker.medium.com/an-ultra-secret-battery-startup-hints-that-its-blown-past-tesla-but-won-t-show-the-goods-2ed31173610d

Regeneration and Transformation comes from Continually asking Questions

The musings of Ivan Kaye 

At this time of year - Rosh Hashanah - our tribe thinks about Regeneration - a new year - but celebrating traditions and a set of values that have lasted thousands of years !! 

There is a great article shared by the legendary John Hagel... which stems from an excerpt from a book  written by Daniel Christian Wahl on transformation through regeneration.

Regeneration and transformation goes to the heart of what John Hagel talks about “the future of work” - as co-Chair of the World Economic Forum - where he currently serves as co-chair of the Global Future Council on the Future of Platforms and Systems. 

This is my take on what was being said!

For us to grow we need to continue to reinvent and transforming ourselves and our communities in response to the inevitable change and transformation of the systems we are embedded in - HOWEVER  I think it’s key - for a tribe to continue to survive and thrive - there needs to be a purpose and a set of values that are non - negotiable!

Taking Action - makes a difference

We all have the power to change the world. As a matter of fact we all do, every day, with everything we do, a little bit- we do this through the action (or inaction) we take .

Our actions and inactions are guided by our feelings of what we need (or don’t need ) and through that define our purpose and culture ! 

If we change our narrative or story - we tend to change the way we look at things and do things  ....

Collaboration and Common Purpose - is powerful

A key of optimal growth is through collaboration. - how do you get many people “buying into your purpose” -  or better still - finding those who have the same feelings and same purpose? 

This creates your “tribe” 

Our tribe can  co-create a world that works for all and for the wider community of life.... based on our collective feelings and common purpose .

Change with the times

To keep relevant - we need to continue to transform ourselves and our communities in response to the inevitable change and transformation of the systems we are embedded in. 

Keep your Values non- negotiable - they are your rocks

So how have the Jews continued to exist for over 5000 years - they have had their rocks - their “non- negotiables ” - their constant .

It’s about asking questions 

The key to regenerate and transform. - Is to  pay more attention to what questions we ask and nit so much the answers (there could be many).

Have you ever had a conversation with a Rabbi?

When you ask “how are you” 

He will ask “how can I be!”

Continually Question

The way towards  growth  is to continually question - and feel safe doing so! 

The key is to  continually explore and question how we can improve solutions that serve our planet, community by community, bioregion by bioregion.

What Questions do you need to ask?

It all starts with  your participation in your community and your contribution to helping to heal the Earth and the people in your tribe and your community - person by person!!

The 3 questions Daniel Christian Wahl suggests we need to ask is 

 

1. How can I love myself, my community, and life as a planetary process more deeply and fully?

2. How can I best serve this interconnected miracle of life and my immediate community?

3. How can I contribute to healing the Earth and her people, and in the process heal myself and all my relationships?

References

: https://medium.com/age-of-awareness/designing-regenerative-cultures-6a623ff65cdf

Daniel Christian Wahl, is a global teacher of cultural design associated with Gaia Education as well as with the Schumacher College and others.

Wahl, D. C., Designing Regenerative Cultures, Triarchy Press, 2016

More about this amazing resource A Transformative Edge: Knowledge, Inspiration and Experience for Educators of Adults, edited by Ursel Biester & Marilyn Mehlmann

What skills are needed to get a Job in the Future of Work ?

My friend David Michaelis’s  view - who is part of our i4j forum - is that the winners in the future of work is not your expertise but how you tackle new frontiers!.

 He refers to an  excellent article - (Click here  ) about the future of work written by Harvard lecturer: Vikram Mansharamani twitter @mansharamani.

Here is my take on the article 

Specialist or Generalist?

Is it  deep expertise that will lead to enhanced credibility, rapid job advancement, and escalating incomes. Core competence, unique skills, deep expertise. 

Or 

Being broad-minded or dabbling - having  the ability to connect the dots - and refer to the specialists - ( the skillset of a generalist ).

Someone who can recognise the opportunity / problem - and have the ability to refer - either to a tablet. (Product) or a specialist (Service) 

 ‘No specific skill will get you ahead in the future’—but this ‘way of thinking’

My plug 

BBG (powered by referron) is a group of specialists - (think of the bbg oval -  as  a baseball oval - whichever base the  customer comes - the objective is to enable that customer to hit a home run and be served by each base - the entire team.  www.bbg.business

Referron and refermeto is the tech behind it thatcan make this happen .

(Technology still being built - but we have a cool mvp - a labour of love!!!)

Feel free to download Referron and upload your profile, so that you to can have your virtual business card.    And refer - it’s free https://members.referron.com/bsivc

End of plug 

The Future of work

The message in the past was clear: Focus on developing an expertise and you’ll rise through the ranks and earn more money. The approach worked. Many of today’s leaders ascended by specializing.

This may no longer be the case!!!

The one certainty about the future is that it will be uncertain. 

The future belongs to generalists

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and technological innovation have commoditized information. 

AI and machines can do much of the work of the specialist 

In today’s world, it’s important to be agile and flexible.

The future belongs to the generalists!!

> You need to see the entire elephant and the Savannah 

> You need to be a systems thinker 

> You need to think bigger and wider than you’ve traditionally done.

>You need to have a set of tools to draw from or a group of specialists - products or services you can refer to.

> You need to Learn how to learn 

What skills are needed to get a Job in the Future of Work ?

Lisa Stern Hayes, one of Google’s top recruiters, said in a podcast that the company values problem-solvers who have a “general cognitive ability” over role-related knowledge.

“Think about how quickly Google evolves,” she said. “If you just hire someone to do one specific job, but then our company needs change, we need to be rest assured that the person is going to find something else to do at Google. That comes back to hiring smart generalists.”

The analytical capabilities you develop (e.g. basic statistical skills and critical reasoning) in the process will fare well when competing against those who are more focused on domain-specific skill.

The skill of connecting the  dots is where it’s all at “. 

Australian Tech Globetrotters can work from Home

From #Advance.org 

#talent | There is a tremendous opportunity for global Australians returning to Australia.

They can live here and #workanywhere as Atlassian has done  because "...tech companies could start upping their recruiting efforts not just all over the country but all over the world."

 Mark Adams of Curious Thing AI suggests that with many parts of Australia #Covid19 free or with low infection rates, we have an opportunity to attract and retain global product development teams to fuel the growth of our technology sector - something we need if we want to dominate niches in #advancedmanufacturing . 

...

WSJ 

https://lnkd.in/exRfB64

...

ICYMI conversation with Mark Adams

https://lnkd.in/gnr-TVj

...

And here is what Andrew N. Liveris had to say recently on this issue:

https://lnkd.in/gbvtWF3

...

And here's more from the recently Advance Global Digital Town Hall. 

https://lnkd.in/g5ttCmv

...

#bornglobal

#poweredbytech

Great article from wsj 

Healthcare - time for Disruption - The Great Unlock

A massive event such as Covid-19 happens just once a generation (let’s hope) . It has  us look at how we do things - forcing us to realign - reassess and potential completely transform the way we do things.

The healthcare system in the USA is broken .... and this momentous disruption has forced us to take the opportunity to look  at a  stagnant, bloated and inefficient system.

Julie Yoo of Andreessen Horowitz has written an interesting article identifying the massive  opportunities for innovation in this space for entrepreneurs and innovators.

I hope this article gives you food for thought  and sparks ideas of opportunity and innovation! 

https://a16z.com/2020/08/07/healthcare-technology-great-unlock

The #nexttechrevolution is here 

Welcome to the Virtual Classroom - it’s immersive, engaging, and it’s part of the NextTech Revolution

Nexttech -virtual classroom strives to mimic and improve the experience of the classroom.

 

The conversations aren’t about making it through this pandemic — it’s about reframing and improving the entire learning experience.

 

The virtual classroom is a game changer 

 

The teacher stands, paces, gestures, and circles around the room, alone except for a curved bank of screens and a digital whiteboard. On the screens - a collection of faces — the class — watching him closely.

 

The virtual classroom is mimicking the in-person classroom experience — but for the fact that every learner has a front seat.

 

The teacher asks a question 

 

A learner snickers - and the teacher asks her to 

“Share the joke!” - the new learning in a virtual classroom is like, but also quite unlike, attending class in person.

 

There is no hiding in the back of the classroom - the teacher knows whether the class is fully engaged.

 

Raising your hand to ask a question, is done digitally, clicking a button will creates a hand across the face of the student .

 

• There are polls of like/dislike, true/false, agree/disagree, 
• multiple choice (A, B, C and 1,2,3) as well as 
• open-answer questions with 30-, 140-, and 250-character limits.

 

The chat room buzzes - with students sharing their insites or comments with the group or with a specific student.

 

Breakout rooms are gold!

 

There’s an Ask a Question feature so the the teacher won’t be disturbed, but knows that the questions are there for when they’re ready. 

 

Content and whiteboards can be loaded in advance on whiteboards - and can just be displayed when they’re ready.

 

Guests speakers and video demonstrations are easy to integrate.

 

Most of the teachers’ work is in the design the courses.

 

Students, can toggle between a screen-size view of the teacher’s whiteboard, a “Room Camera” view from behind the teacher as he or she faces the screen bank, a “Perspective Camera” that allows for eye contact and “real connection,” a “Teacher Camera” that is a bird’s-eye view of the room, and a “Teacher Content” screen that resembles a PowerPoint display, useful for following along with the curriculum.

 

The entire course is recorded and can be reviewed by the participants.

 

The ultimate goal is to have the tech invisible and just to have us learning.

 

“Nexttech are at the forefront of using Virtual Classrooms says CEO Cassandra Parton,

 

Welcome to the Virtual Classroom - it’s immersive, engaging, and it’s part of the NextTech Revolution

Is there a massive disruption about to occur in the bloated University Sector?

An overdue disruption is going to hit the Universities  in a massive way - and in my view - VET - (vocational education) will be the disruptor!

Coronavirus has shuttered in-person schooling, which has forced students online. - Yet, Universities want to still charge the same fee.  

The 'emperor has no clothes' moment for the ridiculously bloated  'education industry' draws near.  

People are beginning to finally figure out how little value (or even negative value) they are getting for their money, combined with the acceleration of technological alternatives and Moore’s Law! 

Employers will start hiring entry-level candidates without degrees and  will be put in clusters of  on-site training programs. 

In return for getting the brightest and the best candidates - their Vocational training will be superb and relevant to the job at hand! 

They will be mentored and commit to three years of employment, so that their resume is sufficiently solid in the absence of the university credential.  

This is effectively the same as a military style “basic training and a 3 year national service” 

As long as other Organisations  recognize the training from the Employer  as valid, the graduates will circulate throughout the Economy , and the Universities will then be aligned to Corporates - and paid on commercial terms.

Connections made at  Universities 

The premise that the 'contacts' they make at a university are more valuable than the contacts they make in their first three years at their Employers  (could be organisations such as Google, Amazon, Atlassian, BSI or Tesla ) sounds absurd.

Has this  long-overdue correction of a massive resource misallocation may finally be upon us?

Who will be the player to stream education at the same cost as other streams - such as Netflix , Bloomberg, Foxtel and others?

Is this part of the #NexttechRevolution? 

Inspired by Kartik Gada  https://www.singularity2050.com/2020/08/atom-award-of-the-month-august-2020.html

Some great insites from the Author - Kartik Gada

The Coronavirus pandemic might just have blasted through the inertia of resistance.

There is no greater indicator of disruption than incumbents saying 'you can't put a price on what WE do!' .     

Overall, the puncturing of this bubble will greatly increase the diffusion of actual education (as distinct from credentialism) throughout society.  It also has manifold international effects.