The future has arrived. The new Samsung Galaxy Gear smart watch is finally out. You can wear it on your wrist and it can respond to your voice and run apps. It sounds fantastic and will no doubt be another step forward in the personal technology arms race. The future has always been about technology, … Continue reading This is not a technical revolution
What is happening in Detroit?
What is going on in Detroit – the motor city? What has happened to Michigan’s largest city and at one time the fourth largest city in America? I hear that it has gone bankrupt. It can’t pay its bills and that large tracts of the city are effectively no go areas without utilities, public services … Continue reading What is happening in Detroit?
Living in a new norm?
I have made some new acquaintances, friends even. I met them online on an extranet site for people who are interested in changing organisational cultures with a view to improving the way that they operate and deliver their services. The site is called the ON2net. My new colleagues are called Tamara, Julian, Chris, Grant and … Continue reading Living in a new norm?
Yes Minister
I have had many novel experiences in my time at Durham County Council but I’ve never met a Minister of State. Well, not knowingly. I’ve met many politicians, MPs, MEPs and even a Lord. I bought him a drink or two and we became drunk as Lords as the saying goes. I’ve even given a … Continue reading Yes Minister
The tipping point of learning
This is another one of those stories from Thinking Digital 2013. It was a rich source of information. This time it is about a man called Eddie Obeng who works on ‘The world after midnight' . His messages were repeated on the second day by other speakers and as the conference went on we all … Continue reading The tipping point of learning
Things to think about when making species un-extinct No.3
In two previous pieces I raised the topic of bringing extinct species back to life, making such things as Tasmanian Tigers and Gastric Brooding Frogs un-extinct through DNA sequencing and clever artificial fertilisation techniques. Outside of any ethical and difficulty questions there were a few points that I thought were worth thinking about. The first … Continue reading Things to think about when making species un-extinct No.3
Give me the keys that unlock people
Everybody has a key that can unlock them. Most have more than one and they are someone that they trust. It could be a member of their family, their partner or their mother perhaps. It could be a colleague at work or a close friend. It could be an upstanding member of society like a … Continue reading Give me the keys that unlock people
Ready-made heaven
I don’t know what has happened to me. I used to come home and enjoy un-wrapping the cardboard sleeve from a ready meal, pricking the cellophane cover with a fork and putting it into the microwave for a few minutes. The satisfying ping when it was done, the steam burning the tips of my fingers … Continue reading Ready-made heaven
We’ve been hanging on for 7600 years
MP Fiona Mactaggart announced this amazing statistic at a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee the other day. ‘Stressed Britons spent a total of 76 centuries on hold to Government phone lines last year.’ It later turned out that she was out by a factor of ten and that she meant to say 7.6 centuries … Continue reading We’ve been hanging on for 7600 years
Feelings trump facts
I have been an admirer of Dr Edward de Bono’s work for a long time. I have read many of his books which are always stimulating; in fact I’m just about to finish ‘I’m right, you’re wrong.’ His ‘Six thinking hats’ is one of the books that has had the greatest influence upon me and … Continue reading Feelings trump facts
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 