It is a very exciting time to be an observer of technology. Events are coming along faster and with more impact all the time. The degree to which technology affects society at a fundamental level today seems to be unprecedented in both scope and speed. Big Things are happening more frequently and with greater impact. Read further >
Looking back on the year 2010, we saw on the one hand the unbelievable growth of Facebook with now more than 550 million users. On the other hand, 2010 was dominated by discussions about new devices for our customers – millions of users bought the iPad and the new iPhone 4. Read further >
It is the end of the year and every thought leader is listing the results of this year’s predictions and making predictions on what the trends will be next year. This past year we saw cellular broadband begin to dominate wireless – one of David P McClure’s predictions. He also predicted that “Internet capabilities will increase dramatically, if you pay” (The CPA Technology Advisor’s Tech Predictions for 2011). Read further >
Software Testing: “The process of analyzing a software item to detect the differences between existing and required conditions (that is, bugs), and to evaluate the features of the software item.” (Ref. IEEE Std 829)
What does that mean?
It means testers execute an application with the intent of finding defects or bugs. We execute the application in an environment that is set as close as possible to how the customers or end users will be using the system. This was easier when the application was installed in a local and controlled environment. Software testers could control the variables within these systems to replicate customer environments and test the application. Now, with the cloud comes challenges that are somewhat different from traditional software testing.
Some days, the pace and extent of change we face feels absolutely daunting. We’re bombarded with new technologies, new business models, new rules and requirements, new ways to connect and communicate, new competition, new processes. Nothing seems to stay the same for very long anymore – and everything seems to get more and more complicated all the time. Read further >
Carlos Ghosn, Chairman & CEO, Renault S.A. & Nissan Motor Co., LTD, gave a welcome keynote on the first day of Le Web 2010. Ghosn contrasted “kaizen,” a Japanese term referring to continuous optimization of existing automotive technologies, with breakthrough innovation that involves creating a new platform for autonomous transportation. For Ghosn, hybrid vehicles represent kaizen and electric vehicles represent a breakthrough. His theme is that because of changing customer needs (reduction of dependence on fossil fuels), kaizen is no longer sufficient. So what is the connection with professional publishing? Read further >
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is the story of sour and stingy Ebenezer Scrooge’s ideological, ethical, and emotional transformation after the supernatural visitations of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present, and Yet to Come. Read further >
People tend to underestimate how long it will take them to complete tasks and projects. This “planning fallacy” has been observed in a wide variety of activities, from novel laboratory tasks to large-scale industrial projects. The planning fallacy can provoke severe problems in our business too, e.g. products that go late to the market, additional costs to manage, need for unforeseen resources. Read further >
Publishers are experiencing – or should I say “undergoing” – the apparently unstoppable growth of information on any thinkable subject on the Internet. Amidst the abundance of content, the power of search engines, and the pervasiveness of social media, they are grappling with methods to keep their target audiences engaged. Content is a commodity, and the value proposition of traditional style publishing has become problematic. Read further >
I am back from attending Le Web 2010 in Paris. And there is wonderful news: you can view most of the sessions on YouTube. Some sessions ran in parallel so I will watch sessions that I missed on YouTube. Moreover, I want to view some sessions again. In short summary, I can state that Le Web exceeded my expectations and I will make several posts about what I learned there. I want to start with a post about my favorite session, which was the “fireside chat” with Dr. Bertrand Piccard, Initiator and Chairman of Solar Impulse. Dr. Piccard’s fireside chat is also available on YouTube (or see video at the end of this post). Here are some points that Dr. Piccard made that inspired me: Read further >
