Category Archives: Business

Peak Printer and Newspaper as a Historical Accident

Posted on July 28, 2013 by flybrand1976

Market research firm Photizo Group provided a recent CompuWorld article on the current state of consumer printers with the graph on the right which shows that 2010 is expected to be ‘Peak Printer’ with just over 16 million global units … Continue reading →

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3D Printing: Chasm Crossing Applications

Posted on June 28, 2013 by flybrand1976

I’m a skeptic on 3D printing.  In talking with a good friend a few weeks ago, the challenge was made, “Okay, I get it that you’re a skeptic.  If you were managing that business, what would you do?”  Challenge accepted … Continue reading →

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Big Trends: Robotics and Automation

Posted on June 26, 2013 by flybrand1976

Improvements and cost reductions in sensors, software and sub-components are driving down the cost of robotics and automation.  As the use of these systems increase, the potential impact is significant. Tomorrow, Thursday, June 27 is the day the results of … Continue reading →

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Playing a Different Game: Genghis Khan and Maneuver Warfare

Posted on June 24, 2013 by flybrand1976

Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History has a fantastic five-part series on the “Wrath of the Khans.”  Carlin’s fundamental point was to create a contrast to some popular histories Genghis Khan, which gloss over the pain and suffering created by the Khans … Continue reading →

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An Apology to my European IT Team

Posted on June 23, 2013 by flybrand1976

In 2008 when we were opening the US office for a European maker of membrane production equipment, we had all of the early IT choices someone has to make when first opening a business. How should we access email? What … Continue reading →

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Materials Science Reporting: Stronger, Lighter Elevator Cables

Posted on June 20, 2013 by flybrand1976

Reporting on innovations in the materials science field tends to follow the Gartner Hype Cycle – most early reports are vague, full of promises, and ultimately a few years later, nothing has been delivered.  The Economist’s recent article on innovations … Continue reading →

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Email is the New Telegraph

Posted on June 19, 2013 by flybrand1976

India currently sends about 5,000 telegrams a day.  The same telegram that was pioneered in 1837 by Samuel Morse.  Telegram service is scheduled to end ‘next month’ according to the article and India’s system is the last of its type … Continue reading →

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X is the New Y!: Product Succession

Posted on June 18, 2013 by flybrand1976

“Cycling is the new golf” proclaimed The Economist in an April 2013 article, which caused me to go dig up an older series of articles that began in 2006 stating, “Is World of Warcraft the New Golf?”  Maybe we should … Continue reading →

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Peak X: Applying Hubbert’s Peak Theory Beyond Natural Resources

Posted on June 17, 2013 by flybrand1976

Shell Oil Geologist Dr. M. King Hubbert (1903 – 1989) coined the phrase ‘Peak Oil’ based on his observations about petroleum production rates for a given geographic area.  Hubbert’s “Peak Theory” would be broadly stated as, “for a given geographic … Continue reading →

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3D Printing: Not Past the Hype Until 2025

Posted on January 3, 2013 by flybrand1976

Tech News Today host Tom Merritt brought up the outlook for 3D printing in their year end Forecast Show – the technology continued go get a lot of press in 2012 and Mr. Merritt’s outlook for 2013 was optimistic but … Continue reading →

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