Randall Howard
“Exploring the intersection of technology, strategy, investment and social innovation…”
  • Home
  • Who
  • Why
  • Books
    LaudaMotion Mini in Vienna

    4 Mar 2008

    Free Love and the Mini

     

    For those from the 1960’s such a pairing might trigger nostalgia. But in the new millennium, what does this mean? Believe it or not, the former is hot, emerging branding strategy for a media-saturated populace.

    This week, en route from Vienna, via Munich to CeBIT and on to Berlin, my European Verdexus partner Suresh Patel, and I had an opportunity to see the mantra of “free love” marketing techniques playing out on the strassen and autobahnen of Austria and Germany.

    Niki Lauda‘s eponymous and innovative car rental cum advertising company LaudaMotion in Vienna, rents a brand new BMW Mini car for an amazing €20. And, given Suresh’s obsession with carbon neutrality, a Mini is definitely planet friendly. Our Mini came painted out in the badge of the same Niki Lauda’s FlyNiki.com, which includes flights between London and Vienna for as low as £1. The business model of such low cost airlines is probably a topic for another day. As well, today we saw Smart Cars and Minis advertising SkyEurope, Allianz, etc.

    Clearly this business, of transforming rental customers like us into moving billboards, …

    Read More ..

    David Buckland - Discounting the Future

    18 Feb 2008

    Does Climate Change Put You to Sleep?

    Well, perhaps I have the answer for that …

    On Saturday, I had the very good fortune to hike through an amazing wilderness reserve and research centre, named rare with London-based artist and filmmaker David Buckland who has created Cape Farewell as well as several naturalists who interpreted this wonderful reserve. The experience was a special one for me, beyond the great outdoors and the people I was with.

    Firstly, I love the outdoors, and this is the first time I’ve really been out in nature (the rough ground being a bit of a challenge) since I recovered from a broken leg. So, Saturdy was like a new beginning.

    Secondly, at the end, we had a chance to hear David Buckland talk about Cape Farewell and some of their programs. Here is how they describe themselves:

    “Cape Farewell brings artists, scientists and educators together to collectively address and raise awareness about climate change. “

    David, as a visual artist and film maker definitely has a unique approach. They take boats, with artists, educators and students into the arctic, many through passages that were, prior …

    Read More ..

    Randall Howard

    16 Feb 2008

    Musings and Machinations

    BLOG MANDATE

    Technology is a passion.

    I have, over the years, had the good fortune to work in researching key technologies, designing and building great products based on technologies, founding and growing great companies built around technology, and now investing (in a “hands-on” way of course) in great technology businesses.

    I also happen to have a passion for the arts, the environment and entrepreneurism. And, in recent years, business models, approaches and systems coming from technology-based business, is starting to transform the social sector.

    What used to be called philanthropy, is definitely becoming more business like and, in fact, the boundaries are blurring. Is innovative micro-lender Grameen Bank a charity or a profit making business? Well, to short change a long discussion, it is a bit of both. And, that’s what’s exciting about the new work of technology and the social sector. Rules are being broken, new businesses cannibalize old, and it is the human intellet, well applied, that wins the day.

    BLOG APPROACH

    I’m a pretty opinionated guy. And, I like nothing more than to share and debate those opinions. Feel free to …

    Read More ..

    Dorit Chrysler - Thereminist Extraordinaire

    1 Feb 2008

    Early 20th Century Avant Garde Music in the 21st Century

    I just returned from an extraordinarily engaging concert hosted by Waterloo’s Numus, which featured New York-based and Austrian born Dorit Chrysler, who is one of the preeminent performance artists on the Theremin. She delivered on her promise to feature the broadest possible range from classical, avant garde, pop, jazz and even the “scary” music we often associate with this early electronic instrument. And, given the delicate body motions, almost like dance with fingering, the Theremin is indeed a very demonstrative instrument, at least in the right hands.

    Preceding her concert, the stage was set with the showing of the 1995 film “Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey” which was an amazing background in itself. I’ve seen the instrument played at a distance before, but since it was created in 1919, it can be considered the pioneer of modern electronic music to which we all should pay homage. If you’ve never heard Dorit or even the Theremin, check it out!

    Read More ..

    Computer power and human reason

    1 Oct 2007

    [Book Review]: Computer Power and Human Reason

    Computer power and human reason by Joseph Weizenbaum

    Published by W. H. Freeman WorldCat • LibraryThing • Google Books • BookFinder

     

    This was a seminal work in exploring themes of computing, artificial intelligence and the limits of technology by Joseph Weizenbaum, MIT professor and social thinker. He considered that computers will always lack human emotions and compassion, and that this would define the limits of how far technology should be allowed to progress.

    Joseph died in March 2008, having returned to his native Berlin, Germany. Having the most presentable car back in 1978, I was the natural choice to drive him from Toronto airport to a lecture at the University of Waterloo Computer Science Club. I recall with fondness an engaging conversation with Joseph, who was a brilliant, yet very approachable, person. I would also point people to an excellent documentary film on his life: Weizenbaum. Rebel at Work.

     

     

    Read More ..

    Founders at Work

    9 May 2007

    [Book Review]: Founders at Work: Stories of Startups’ Early Days

    Founders at Work by Jessica Livingston

    Published by Apress WorldCat • LibraryThing • Google Books • BookFinder

    The power of this book comes from the breadth of founders (more than 30) interviewed by Jessica Livingston whose startup success ranges from hardware, software and the web with examples from the 1980′s right up to this decade. Although, by celebrating primarily technical founders, it perhaps downplays some of the financial aspects of business growth, it is a powerful read. And, to be honest, the role of the technology based founder, which is the backbone of the Silicon Valley model needs to be better understood and celebrated. Most of the founders are forthright, with just a few exceptions, about the U turns and even failures that led to their ultimate success. All in all, a must read for any budding startup entrepreneurs.

    Read More ..

    Infotopia

    8 May 2007

    [Book Review]: Infotopia: How Many Minds Produce Knowledge

    Infotopia by Cass R. Sunstein

    Published by Oxford University Press WorldCat • LibraryThing • Google Books • BookFinder

    Cass Sunstein is an incredibly original and clear thinker on the whole topic of human organization. At the cutting edge of how new digital technologies are allowing us to harness the “wisdom of the many”, this book is a must read to provide a 21st century take on human organization. It provides examples of the power of the group, but also ways in which group organization can go wrong. Managers of all business, technology-driven or otherwise, would do well to read this book.

    Thanks to Alec Saunders for recommending this book.

    Read More ..

    Wikinomics

    7 Apr 2007

    [Book Review]: Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything

    Wikinomics by Don Tapscott and Anthony D. Williams

    Published by Portfolio WorldCat • LibraryThing • Google Books • BookFinder

    Don Tapscott presents another well thought out and lucid work on the digital revolution. This time, he focuses on how these digital technologies are fundamentally changing, and perhaps creating, new economic realities. It was published around the same time as the Web 2.0 techniques of user generated content, Wikis, open source, blogging, etc. were moving into a more mainstream position and starting to impact the business world. This book has a more technological focus than other books in this space, so I recommend reading alongside, say Friedman’s The World is Flat.

    Read More ..

    The World Is Flat

    6 Mar 2007

    [Book Review]: The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century

    The World Is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman

    Published by Thorndike Press WorldCat • LibraryThing • Google Books • BookFinder

    Thomas Friedman provides an excellent pairing to Wikinomics in describing the inevitability and intertwining of globalization with the digital revolution. An extremely insightful book that is very well written, the only failing is that Friedman can’t seem to see the fundamental disconnect between continued “American exceptionalism” in a globalized world. Thanks to Ginny Dybenko for turning me onto this book.

    Read More ..

    The Soul Of A New Machine

    12 Feb 2007

    [Book Review]: The Soul of a New Machine

    The Soul of a New Machine by Tracy Kidder

    Published by Back Bay Books WorldCat • Read Online • LibraryThing • Google Books • BookFinder

    Way back in 1981, I identified strongly with Tracy Kidder’s description of the intensity of non-stop, passionate, 24×7 product development. The hacker culture, harnessed to corporate product development, predates the many Silicon Valley stories of Netscape or today’s Google. Having gone through a “burn out” process in developing Coherent, this book gave me great perspective that has stuck with me to this day.

    Read More ..

    «‹ 9 10 11 12

    © 2009-2020 by Randall Howard

    • Subscribe
    • Manage
    • Privacy

    Powered by WordPress • Themify ThemeMin