Posts Categorized: disruptive technology

Everything we knew about money is up for grabs. So will we end up smiling?

Posted by & filed under App Economy, disruptive technology, Emerging Technologies.

“Thanks to mobile payments, it is entirely possible that we will see a major country such as China become a predominantly cashless society in five years’ time, if not sooner.” Source: BBC Technology News Date: November 21, 2017 Link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/The_disruptors_money_changing Discussion 1) What would it mean in your country to have it operate completely cashlessly? 2) Friction-free transactions… Read more »

The Decade That Built the Next iPhone

Posted by & filed under Apple, Consumer Technology, disruptive technology, Emerging Technologies, Entertainment.

When Steve Jobs launched the iPhone in 2007, he said it was 5 years ahead of the competition and he was right. But after a decade, it’s starting to feel like Apple needs something big again. And now, on cue, here comes something big. Source: Wired Magazine Date: September 7th, 2017 Link to 5 minute 44 second… Read more »

Canada is North America’s up-and-coming startup center

Posted by & filed under Competitive advantage, Consumer Technology, disruptive technology, Emerging Technologies.

Canada, with nine percent of the world’s forests, is a land of plenty. As well as an enviable array of natural resources, Canada also boasts incredible support for entrepreneurs, both homegrown and international. Many household names, such as Slack, Hootsuite and Shopify — which may be mistakenly considered as U.S. products — hail from north… Read more »

Banking On The Blockchain

Posted by & filed under bitcoin, blockchain, disruptive technology.

Ever since Bitcoin was introduced in late 2008, the blockchain code that underpins the cryptocurrency has been the source of hope and fear—and much hype. In theory, agile startups could create software built on blockchain protocols with the hope of providing a safer, faster, cheaper and more transparent alternative to traditional financial intermediaries, such as… Read more »

As stores go high-tech, new study finds shoppers don’t want robotic help

Posted by & filed under App Economy, disruptive technology, Emerging Technologies.

Stores are spending lots of time and money trying out new, fancy technologies like touchscreen mirrors in changing rooms and robo-assistants out in the racks to get consumers to buy more.  Shoppers couldn’t care less. Source: Toronto Star Date: February 23rd, 2017 Link: https://www.thestar.com/business/2017/02/22/as-stores-go-high-tech-new-study-finds-shoppers-dont-want-robotic-help.html Discussion 1) “There’s a disconnect between stores and shoppers over tech.   While retailers… Read more »

The Six Reasons Smart Folks are Worried About Apple

Posted by & filed under Competitive advantage, disruptive technology, Emerging Technologies.

There are two huge topics of discussion in Silicon Valley right now. The first is “Who will win the level 4 autonomy race, Tesla or Uber?,” and the second is “Is Apple in trouble?” Source: LinkedIn Pulse Date: September 20th, 2016 Link: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/six-reasons-smart-folks-worried-apple-jason-calacanis?trk=eml-b2_content_ecosystem_digest-hero-22-null&midToken=AQH2XEf9DJ0DqA&fromEmail=fromEmail&ut=1CMvbpe3qJTno1 Discussion 1) Why does it matter than the #1 company in the U.S. and a… Read more »

Embrace new transit technology or else, U of T study says

Posted by & filed under App Economy, disintermediation, disruptive technology, Emerging Technologies.

A new report urges southern-Ontario cities to partner with Uber and other “shared mobility” services to improve transit Source: The Toronto Star Date: August 30th, 2016 Link: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/08/19/embrace-new-transit-technology-or-else-u-of-t-study-says.html Discussion 1) ““Shared mobility” is the term used to describe the current shift away from personal ownership of things like bikes and cars toward shared use of those resources though… Read more »

Set-top box crackdown will chill Canada’s tech innovation

Posted by & filed under disintermediation, disruptive technology, Emerging Technologies, Ethical Issues, IT Trends, politics.

Canada’s federal court has issued an injunction banning several companies from distributing set-top boxes with pre-loaded software, despite the fact that everyone agrees the boxes also have legitimate uses.  Source: Toronto Star Date: August 25th, 2016 Link: Set top boxes Discussion 1) At issue here is ” set-top boxes that turn standard televisions into “smart TVs,” enabling users… Read more »