Apr
28
It’s not about the plumbing!
Filed Under Digital Engagement, Innovation | Leave a Comment
Very soon the government will be producing its full ‘Digital Britain‘ report - its aim to help the UK be at the forefront of the global digital economy — “At a minimum this report seeks to bring both focus and stimulus to this sector”.
In January it produced the interim, which while helpful seemed mainly concerned with technical infrastructure and broadband speeds. Yes, there was talk of Britain’s world-class game designers, content providers and new media innovators — but in comparison to all the ‘pipe talk’ it was all quite woolly and vague — almost as if they didn’t quite understand what they were talking about. Quite scary!
To concentrate on infrastructure is about as much use as a trying to generate a housing boom by focussing on the productivity of brick manufacturers. Yes we can alway use more bandwidth, but that battle is almost won with UK connectivity having been transformed over the last five years. And with clever technology we are increasingly able to do more with less.
This report, especially in these difficult times, should be honing in on how to further support British innovation to build world class competitive digital business in new media, TV, music, and advertising - the creative industries.
Anthony Lilley who as Chair of the UK digital content forum puts it bluntly: “Should we be the most innovative nation, should we be creating the most saleable content and services, or do we just want nice pipes?”
This issue is vital for the public sector also. With the huge cuts in spending expected over the next few years, digital innovation is one obvious route to driving costs down and creating spectacular gains in reach, productivity, engagement and democratic participation.
More hopefully, the Communications, Technology and Broadcast Minister Lord Stephen Carter who authored the interim says that the full report will contain much more balance. Let us hope so, this is a vital publication that should not be allowed to become a damp squib.
Apr
3
The return of Wired
Filed Under Innovation | 4 Comments
No, I am not talking about the exceptional TV series finally being screened nationally in the UK. I am referring to the relaunch of Wired UK magazine this week which has suddenly returned from the dead after 10 years. (Left: The first 1995 edition)
People I talk to either too young to remember, or were not caught up in the early days of the dot-com bubble, think it bizarre that a magazine originally birthed alongside the Internet and covering all things ‘cyberculture’ should emerge - let alone re-emerge - as a PAPER publication!
Despite being a member of what I guess is their target audience, I find the U.S. based version of Wired really quite dense (it really does require commitment). However it managed to escape the technology bust by digging deep into the original spirit of the brand and focused on innovation, culture change and globalisation. This has enabled them to outlast industry competitors such as The Red Herring, Business 2.0, and New Media Magazine.
But why this, why now?
Some people are saying it is brave to launch in the middle of the downturn, while others say this is a safe bet as digital is forecast to continue growing despite the crunch.
Final edition 1999
Either way it will be interesting to see how it fares and particularly if it can capture the post credit crunch zeitgeist hopes for a new green and hi-tech world. It is quite bizarre that the last edition in 1999 had a front page feature named ‘Bankers behaving badly’!
What do you think? A welcome return of a lost friend or 10 years too late?