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Mo’ Cameras, Mo’ Problems
Philosophically speaking, it’s hard to argue with the eternal wisdom of The Notorious B.I.G., as highlighted in the title of their hit song, “Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems.”
Enter surveillance technology:
(Nest)
At its core, the Nest Cam IQ shows how the company’s evolved from one that makes a fancy recording device into one that makes an intelligent robot—one that’s always watching, and always learning, about the goings-on in your home.
–Arielle Pardes, “Nest’s New Security Cam Keeps a Sharp Eye on Your Smart Home” on wired.com
Am I the only person who, after reading the above statement, is a bit terrified at the casual nature in which people are reporting and seemingly embracing technology that’s evolving closer and closer to the point of robotic consciousness and control over our most private space as private citizens?
The only thing more surreal, for those with any interest or curiosity with science-fiction and evolving surveillance technology, is if you were gifted a Nest Cam by your biological big brother.
Actually, what continues to be mind-blowingly surreal, is that people are excitedly big brothering themselves.
Jimmy’s Daily Planet maintains a very pro-innovator stance, which includes technological advancements and big, wild ideas. However, in equal measure, this blog has also always stood very firm in exercising necessary caution when it comes to embracing new inventions simply because something is branded new. The Nest Cam falls into that all-important Cautionary Category. There may be positives with the Nest Cam, but there are too many negatives at this point concerning personal privacy vs. potential advantages in the initial cost-benefit analysis.
Westworld, anyone?
Is Tech Navigating a Roundabout Future?
Similar to Clark W. Griswold, the potential technological roundabout ahead may not have the easiest exit strategy. Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing is still in the TBD phase.
Literally.
But it’s intriguing nonetheless.
The innovative new headquarters for Apple, Inc. (at least there’s still some form of innovation still happening there) is receiving its finishing polishes as I write this sentence and as you are reading this awesomely intriguing sentence. Many have labeled the gigantic circular design as “space-like.” Actually, there’s some credence to that description. Recall the circular, clocklike spaceship in 2014 science-fiction epic Interstellar.
The sleek design and environmentally sustainable compound campus will likely serve as a model for future buildings in myriad industries (possibly including schools?), business mentalities (hopefully, not like the 2017 big brother film The Circle) and, brace yourself…
as a future handheld device?
Rumors surrounding any Steve Jobs-like inventions have been lacking under the Tim Cook era. Apple, for lack of a better word, has been grounded in recent years. Ironic that the new Apple HQ looks like a spaceship, right?
Was that deliberate?
Is it possible that Mr. Cook has been cooking up (had to) a new wave of Apple products right underneath our noses? My random Tuesday, May 16th hypothesis is that Apple might soon be releasing a product or line of new products that utilize the circular structure seen in the video above showcasing Apple’s new HQ in the near future. This is not to say that the next iPhone will be circular, but that some brand new product or series of products just may capitalize on the power of circular motion. Or that a new revolutionary feature in Apple’s products will take on a prominently round shape.
Why not? The symmetry between Apple’s daily lifestyle for its employees at the circular spaceship would be perfectly synched with the gadgets of its tech consumers spread around the globe. Plus, as Apple’s competitors are focused on the rectangular, square-like shapes for its devices, a circular product of some sort would stylistically one-up its rivals.
As they say, you can’t fit a round peg into a square hole.
Or vice-versa.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, could be Apple’s next insanely great competitive advantage.
Curb Your Sales Pitch
When someone (or some company) gets it, as in really gets it, that’s worthy of a spotlight.
Apple is the tech company that doesn’t act like a tech company. And, because of that approach, Apple became the leading personal technology firm in the world. Maybe they took a page from Jason Alexander’s book pamphlet Acting Without Acting.
When you’re browsing in a store without any specific focus, do you find it helpful or less than helpful when the salesperson approaches/sprints to you with their commission-based agenda? Most people, I would imagine, would respond with annoying less than helpful. As consumers, we’re well aware that the employee is the store’s personalized informational resource. But, like most situations in life, we’ll ask for help when we need help.
Turns out, Apple executive Angela Ahrendts feels the same way. Ms. Ahrendts recently sat down for an interview with Norah O’Donnell on CBS This Morning.
Apple’s mentality of selling without selling is certainly a multi-faceted, top consumer strategy in the digital era. And this modus operandi should be applied to more than just selling tech products or acting. If you act like a salesperson, you’ll be treated like a salesperson. But if you act differently than people expect, then you’ll be treated differently than people expected.
Imagine the possibilities.
Don’t Bite the Hand (With the Apple) That Feeds You
In the case of Uber, their app is proving to be just the appetizer to their much larger financial feast.
And it’s been recently revealed that one of their servers is not happy.
The business landscape in the United States, and around the world, continues to flatten and be driven by seemingly boundless innovation within marketplaces both new and established. Whether you are pro or anti-taxi (or neutral), there’s no doubt that the car driving service Uber is providing competition to those famous yellow cars and vans. Having used Uber on many occasions with friends, I have no complaints as a rider. The immediacy, timeliness and incentive to impress is certainly a valuable change of pace from having to wait for a taxi that may or may not show up when needed.
However, as is the case with any business, the front room flash and dash rarely tells the whole story of its backroom operations.
Apple CEO Tim Cook, to his credit, is flexing his muscles for a necessary and positive stand regarding proper business practices in the ever-evolving and mysterious tech space. While Tim Cook will never achieve the fandom or dedicated following as the late Steve Jobs (can anyone?), Mr. Cook has, in recent years, proven to be an impressive CEO in the grounded, traditional sense. His repeated stands for customer privacy rights is painting a rare picture of a tech giant who is genuinely attempting to grow and innovate within the technology industry while striving to prioritize essential protections for his consumers.
The abbreviated expression is, “an apple a day…” Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Kalanick was likely reminded of just how many people use an Apple each day.
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