somersault

On Harvard Biz Review (@HarvardBiz), Michael Schrage observes that “the following 6 ideas emerged this past year as powerful ‘innovation invitations.’ They seem certain to intensify in global power and influence. They'll be sources of — and resources for — innovation differentiation this coming year.”

1. The Slacktivism Co-Opt: As much a term of derision as global sociological phenomenon, slacktivism has emerged as social media’s way of making support for a cause as easy as a re-tweet or clicking Facebook’s “like” button....

2. Counting on Self-Quantifiers for Growth: Mobile, digital, and networked devices have created a global sub-culture of self-quantifiers — that is, individuals who rigorously count every step they take, every calorie they eat, every minute they sleep, every email/text they send/receive, and every schedule change they make....

3. Gerontabletification: Mobile phones are too small; their screens too tiny and keyboards too minute. But tablets have emerged as ideal media platforms for those requiring larger fonts and bigger keys. The iPad has ceased to be a symbol of youth and vitality. It’s now how silver haired executives — and 75 year old grandmas — read the news, manage their email and play games with the kids....

4. Globalizing Grand Challenges: Over the past decade, America has been a leader in the design, development, and marketing of competitions and prizes for technical innovation. But it's time the so-called emerging economies stepped up....

5. Handheld Augmented Reality: Who, or what, will be the Foursquare of Augmented Visualization and Interaction?....What's next is the first wave of mobile devices becoming augmented reality viewers for their users. Expect to see QR code/augmented reality mashups as a 2012 investment to facilitate the virtual transition....

6. The Greenlash Arrives: Is there a Greenlash emerging that’s pushing populations worldwide to reconsider so-called fossil fuels as better, safer, and more reliable than their renewable counterparts? There's little doubt that they’re proving to be cheaper....The green promises of eco-tech are taking longer and costing more than many of its champions promised. As energy-dependent economies chug along with growth far lower than expected or desired, green options are looking rather gray....

Read this in full.

Bookmark and daily use Somersault’s (@smrsault) SomersaultNOW online dashboard, including our Innovation tab.

In the September/October 2011 issue of Outreach (@Outreach), Bobby Gruenewald (@bobbygwald), pastor and innovation leader at YouVersion (@YouVersion), offered trend analyses to help church leaders be more effective in 2012:

1. Trend: Permanence to Mobility. Question: If people are increasingly mobile now, how does this shape the opportunities we offer to engage them in ministry?

2. Trend: Consumer to Producer/Consumer. Question: How can we move content creation beyond just our team and harness the creativity of the church?

3. Trend: Content to Conversation. Question: How can we build conversation around our teaching and what’s happening in our church?

4. Trend: Programmed to On-Demand. Question: How can we make what we do more adaptable? How can we go from one-size-fits-all programming to something that is highly customizable—when and where people need it?

Read this in full.

Bookmark and use daily Somersault’s (@smrsault) SomersaultNOW online dashboard; especially the Leadership and Innovation tabs.

On digital book world (@DigiBookWorld), editorial director Jeremy Greenfield (@JDGsaid) spoke with book industry experts, observers, and players to get their opinion on what’s ahead for us in this fast changing industry:

1. We will see more self-published best-sellers next year with an exponential rise in the number of million-selling authors.

2. Large publishing companies will go through major restructurings, creating new positions and redundancies of all shapes and sizes.

3. Amazon will come out with a larger tablet with an 8.9-inch screen and it will be priced at $299 or lower.

4. Apple will come out with a smaller iPad at a reduced price.

5. Sony will get a second life in the e-reader game when Pottermore launches in the Spring.

6. Literary agencies will engage in a campaign to communicate the value of their services to the book industry.

7. Authors will become disenchanted with the rights they sign away to publishers. Shorter and more flexible copyright terms will become more attractive to authors.

8. The standard ebook royalty from major publishing houses will rise next year and will escalate with increased sales.

9. Standards of what an app is and what a book is will change and apps will eventually be sold in the iBookstore.

10. More publishing companies will form in-house transmedia groups.

Read this in full.

Over on paidContent (@paidContent), Laura Hazard Owen (@laurahazardowen) writes “What’s Coming in 2012: Book Publishing,” part of the comprehensive series on the topic of all content, Coming in 2012.

·         Amazon and Barnes & Noble make a deal, sort of.

·         Ebook pricing will shift to quality-focused debates.

·         One big-six publisher will try a subscription scheme.

Read this in full.

And Noelle Skodzinski (@NoelleSki), editor of Publishing Executive (@pubexec), presents the results of a survey of her magazine’s readers concerning

·         the top 10 challenges publishing executives are facing,

·         the top 11 growth areas publishers are seeing, and

·         the top 11 publishing technologies/solutions for which publishers will be shopping in 2012.

Read this in full.

Stay current with news about the publishing world by bookmarking Somersault’s (@smrsault) SomersaultNOW online dashboard.

1.   Tablets. Yep, more tablets. The iPad and Kindle will continue to dominate. But expect other players to be competitive with next generation tablets, and new players (Microsoft) to finally enter. The other big news in the tablet space will be integrating them into our work life as enterprise IT deals with employees using tablets for work and a flood of B2B applications that will make tablets more than a media tool.

2.   Interfaces.

3.   Social.

4.   Internet of Things.

5.   Apps.

6.   Big Data.

7.   Analytics.

8.   Storage.

9.   Entertainment Everywhere.

10. Cloud Computing.

Read this in full.

Stay ahead of the curve by using the SomersaultNOW online dashboard of news and links; especially the Futurist news tab.

The New York Times Company Research & Development Lab (@nytlabs) has built an interactive mirror, called Reveal, that displays headlines, the weather, and even a current outside view, so you can stay up-to-the-minute while brushing your teeth.

As the physical world becomes increasingly digital, computing is becoming more connected to our physical selves

We've designed Reveal to explore how the relationship between information and the self is evolving and how media content from The New York Times (@nytimes) and others might play a part.

It uses a special semi-reflective glass surface, so that

users of the mirror are able to see both a normal reflection of the real world as well as overlaid, high-contrast graphics. We've dubbed this "augmented reflection." Conceptually, the idea is that our mirror can reveal the halos of data around real-world objects, including ourselves.

Envisioned as a key fixture in your home, the mirror uses face recognition to call up personalized data, including health stats, a calendar, news feeds, and other information relevant to your morning routine. Voice commands switch between views, and gestures (via an embedded Kinect) activate content, including fullscreen video messages from other mirror users. An RFID-enabled shelf responds to objects that are placed on it, such as medications and personal care products, revealing personalized data. The mirror will recognize certain behaviors, such as when you schedule a trip or fail to get enough exercise, and recommend contextually-relevant content. If you're interested, you can tap your phone on the mirror to sync the article for reading on the run or on our Surface Reader application.

Read this in full.

How will this type of innovation affect other content creators, such as you? What ideas does this prompt for you as you consider your publishing agenda and how your consumers will interact with your content?

Let Somersault (@smrsault) help you navigate the churning waters that make up 21st century publishing.

Be sure to bookmark and use daily the SomersaultNOW online dashboard; especially the Futurist news tab.

Back in 2006, CBC’s (@CBC) series “The End” explored the future of such media as print and television. Much of that exploration is still relevant. Print- and video-on-demand is a dominant force in the media choices of consumers. You’ll find these videos interesting background to the continuing revolution we’re experiencing in content production and consumption.

trendwatching.com (@trendwatching) says the consumer arena has moved beyond the ‘old’ model of consumption (brands produce, consumers buy). “Now, here’s yet another twist on consumers making the most of their assets and possessions: RECOMMERCE.”

It’s never been easier for consumers to unlock the value in past purchases. Novel brand buy-backs, exchange schemes, online platforms, and mobile marketplaces offer smart and convenient options for consumers keen to ‘trade in to trade up,’ alleviate financial strains, and/or quell environmental and ethical concerns.

RECOMMERCE is now increasingly affecting even consumers’ initial purchase decisions. Just as they do when buying a car or a home, consumers are factoring an item's resale value into the cost of ownership for an ever-wider range of purchases.

3 drivers behind the RECOMMERCE phenomenon:

1. NEXTISM: Consumers will forever crave the new and exciting experiences promised by the ‘next’.

2. STATUSPHERE: The growing status boost that comes from being savvy and shopping (environmentally) responsibly.

3. EXCUSUMPTION: Cash-strapped consumers embracing creative solutions.

Read the full report.

Stay informed with SomersaultNOW dashboard's Research and Future tabs.

Computing is rapidly evolving into a real “ecology,” where chips will be embedded in everything from your coffee mug to your sweater. The above video produced by Mickey McManus’ (@mickeymcmanus) design consultancy, MAYA, illustrates this idea.

Also see Discover Magazine’s (@DiscoverMag) article, “The Internet May Soon Include All of the Things Around You.”

B. Bonin Bough (@boughb), Global Head of Digital for PepsiCo, writes in Forbes (@Forbes) about his discussion at the Milken Global Conference (@MilkenInstitute) with Nicholas Carr, renowned author who’s investigating how technology is impacting the way we think. Bough asks the question, “How often do we outsource traditional ways of thinking to smart devices, choosing to sacrifice learning and let the technology think for us?” And he suggests we’re losing something in the process.

Read this in full.

In the BigThink.com (@bigthink) interview below, Carr describes the technologies that have reshaped the way our brains work.

Talk with us at Somersault (@smrsault) to discern how your publishing and marketing strategies need to be positioned for the future's blue ocean opportunities. Be sure to bookmark and use daily our SomersaultNOW online dashboard.

IDATE Research (@JeanDSeval) has just published its “World Internet Usages & Markets” report.

“Globally, the number of users of fixed Internet will continue to grow at a steady pace, reaching 2.3 billion in 2015”, comments Sophie Lubrano, Project Leader and IDATE’s Director of Studies. “Users of mobile Internet services will progress even more rapidly, however, and should reach 2.6 billion in 2015. This growth is fuelled by emerging markets, particularly China.”

Read this in full.

Let Somersault help you develop mobile marketing and publishing strategy for your brand.

According to new report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc., the world e-readers market is forecast to reach 53,870,000 units by the year 2017. The global economic recession, which put several industries under pressure and in a state of turmoil, has failed to rattle the market for e-readers making it an exceptional product.

The report states that the “growing popularity of these handy devices is pushing the book, magazine, and newspaper publishing industries to redefine their existence in this digital age and in the aftermaths of economic turmoil. Although sales of ebooks presently account for only a small portion of the overall book publishing market, with the passage of time, this segment is forecast to emerge a mainstream market.”

Read this in full.