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Anyone who has watched even one episode of  The Apprentice  will surely believe they can do better than some of the half-wits we see racing around London, trying to impress Lord Sugar with their sales patter, savvy-saving and new business plans. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that it’s an entertainment show, not a serious business programme — that the characters on our screens have been hand-picked by producers because of their unapologetic bravado and all-too-often misplaced

Be honest with yourself; did you lightly sway your head waiting for the gorilla to thrash out that Phil Collins drum solo? Or ask your kid if th­ey had to choose, would it be Daddy or chips? Did you even go so far as to vote for Adam and Jane’s wedding song after watching their relationship unfold through a love of broadband?   Whether you’ve eaten a Dairy Milk bar, popped some McCain fries in the oven or switched your internet provider to BT, it’s likely that these ads ring

Ever fancied seeing yourself on the silver screen? Think you’re the movie star that the world didn’t know they needed? No? Me neither. But the notion that one day any Joe Bloggs could feature centre stage in a film is an intriguing one.    So, what would it take for virtual movies to become a reality? Within ( www.with.in ) was founded in 2014 with an aim of expanding the potential of immersive storytelling via premium augmented reality and virtual reality experiences across

I recently happened upon a short  video   by Frank W. Abagnale on Big Think website on the subject of hackable technology. In it, Abagnale — a frequent lecturer at the FBI Academy — ponders: "We develop a lot of technology but we never go to the final step and that is the last question of the development in how would someone misuse this technology and let’s make sure it can’t be done." ​ It’s a thought-provoking statement that led me down a deep internet rabbit hole. What I d

Progress in health care can often be as prolonged and painful as the ailments we seek to treat. When you consider how far technology has come in the last century alone, it can feel frustrating to be told to “call back at 8.30am” to book a doctor’s appointment when the phone lines open. It’s the year 2020, after all.   My 1990’s self would likely be dumbfounded that we still use telephones as a method of communication at all, let alone relying on such an archaic process for so

I revisited a Q3 2018 report from StartUp Health around digital health funding earlier this week. It contains insights into the most active investors, functions and technologies from January to end of September 2018, and generally paints a rosy picture of growth within the digital health funding landscape.   It’s fascinating stuff. Not least because Q3 2018 achieved the highest quarter performance since tracking began in 2010, with a whopping $4.5bn generated through seed, v

With all the political posturing in the UK that surrounded December’s General Election, it was no surprise that cutting crime rates was a central talking point — after “oven-ready” Brexit deals, of course! ​ In January 2019, violent crime in England and Wales had risen by 19% in a year — the highest since 2007.  For the year ending June 2019, the Office for National Statistics  reported : ​ 5% decrease in the number of homicides following a period of increases over the last f

Peloton have certainly made a name for themselves in the seven years since they launched as an exercise equipment brand in New York City — and not just for lambasted ‘Peloton lady’  ad   that went viral in December for all the wrong reasons. Hailed as the  future   of tech fitness, the company is now believed to be worth billions. Their core offering is a luxury stationary bicycle that allows users to stream spinning classes through a monthly subscription.  Unsurprisingly, th

Disney is famed for its imagination, and way back in the 1990s they were toying with the idea of augmented reality (AR). A year after the commercial success of  Honey, I Shrunk the Kids  — the movie where Ghostbusters alumni Rick Moranis portrays a hapless inventor who quite literally reduces his children to a quarter of an inch in size — Walt Disney World Resort introduced Honey, I Shrunk the Audience; a 4D spin-off that used tactics including hidden water sprays and leg ti

If you’ve seen the Black Mirror episode “Nosedive”, then you’ll be familiar with the concept of social credit and how one’s actions can affect their socioeconomic status. What you may be surprised to hear, however, is that a similar social credit system is already active in China.  ​ Representing China’s attempt to restore trustworthiness in its economy and society, their system combines traditional western-style credit scores with more intrusive measures. Individuals are ran

My recent blog — Online on the High Street — took a closer look at how bricks-and-mortar stores can adopt digital practices to entice footfall. From personalisation to social media activations to immersive, interactive experiences, there are a lot of avenues that traditional shops can trial. One such avenue is Augmented Reality (AR). ​ Once thought of as gimmicky, AR is fast becoming a go-to medium — enthralling customers and unlocking new levels of engagement in the process.

As alluded to in blogs gone by I don’t have a lot of free time, so when I finally do dedicate an hour or so to watching a film or TV programme I want to ensure it’s of the highest quality. Black Mirror is one such programme.  ​ From humble beginnings on Channel 4, Charlies Brooker’s dark, dystopian and thought-provoking anthology series has evolved into an Emmy award-winning juggernaut for Netflix. Not bad for the guy we’re used to seeing angrily critiquing shows from his so

Just fifteen years ago, the average user rarely encountered language technology — now anyone with web access can use it. When you command Alexa to turn the lights on, ask Google what year your favourite movie was released or dictate a text message while you’re cooking dinner — all of these modern touches utilise human language technology.  ​ With over a quarter of UK homes now owning a smart device — not to mention the powerful computers we carry around in our pockets all day

Trying to book an appointment at your local GP surgery is enough to bring anyone out in a cold sweat. That is, unless you enjoy spending your mornings listening to on-hold music or getting short shrift from disgruntled reception staff who clearly overslept on the day that customer service training was given. ​ Or you might be one of the lucky ones in the catchment areas of well-run surgeries who have adopted the latest technologies to streamline and simplify the end-to-end pa

With the sad demise of Thomas Cook, it’s clear to see how the challenges posed by these ever-changing times are fast becoming insurmountable. Online competition, comparison sites and uncertain political and social climates are all contributing factors. And it’s not just travel companies — from BHS to Toys “R” Us to Mothercare, the familiar facades of our local towns and cities are fading — and fast.    ​ All of which begs the question — should companies be doing things differ

“You won’t always have a calculator on you, will you?” The lasting words of maths teachers, engrained in the memories of the masses — at least if you were born before the year 2000. Nobody could have predicted just how wrong they were. Now, everyone with a smartphone literally has a calculator, diary, library, radio station and so much more in their pockets — and on their person — from the moment they wake up to the time they go to sleep. And whilst traditional aids such as p

The high street is dead — an emotive and unsettling headline that has found a home in newspapers (ironically, another traditional institution of yesteryear that is dying a slow, painful death) for several years now.   It’s a sorry state of affairs when store after store stand unoccupied with whitewashed windows and a “thanks for your custom but we’re out of here” note sellotaped to the door.  Our elders reflect on a time when independent butchers, bakers and candlestick-maker

Whilst my meeting-packed week often prevents me from watching as many new movies as I’d like to, there are a few greats that are etched in my memory. Most of which are fun, fantastical and futuristic affairs centered around technology (I’m looking at you  Back to the Future …) ​ And with my recent blog delving into the implications of Spike Jonze’s  Her and the announcement of the fourth Matrix instalment, what better time to explore the technological triumphs from other ga

There are many thought-provoking notions to be found within the pages of  It Doesn’t Have to Be Crazy at Work  — a strategy for celebrating “calm” in the world of work devised by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson. One such notion is that comparison is not necessary —  or in some cases, is altogether detrimental — for the success of a company. Fried and Heinemeier Hansson explain: ​ "Lots of companies are driven by comparisons in general. Not just whether they’re first,

A  recent study   by UK estate agents Savills discovered that homeowners move on average 1.8 times in their lifetime. Prior to 2008, the average was 3.6 times after buying a first property. With the uncertainty of Brexit and the sharp rise in house prices, it’s not hard to see why there has been a boom in people choosing to extend their existing homes to avoid the stress of moving. Thankfully I’m happily settled where I am. Packing up our family of four for a week’s holiday i