Newsletter Volume 27 Issue 3, Mar 2015
From The Editor
First, an apology to Arizona State University, whose article Formula for predicting innovation in our February issue was wrongly attributed to myself.
Some recent research findings may be a wake-up call for any of us who think we are above average (i.e. probably all of us.) In the case of smartphones, the research “provides support for an association between heavy smartphone use and lowered intelligence”. Other research warns that “Searching the Internet for information may make people feel smarter than they actually are”. We are all getting more and more benefit from mobile technology but is that making us lazier, less competent and more self confident? See below, Are Smartphones Making Us Dumber?
Yes, the mobile app business is booming but is the software quality bombing? Are we seeing another wild west in terms of cowboy practices? A March 12, 2015 Science Daily article on health apps quotes “already some 100,000 on the market on iOS (Apple) and Android platforms, generating 4.5 billion dollars’ worth (around 3.3 billion euros) of business”. What worries the researchers is that “These applications do not handle information securely and this is especially serious in apps that use clinical or medical data that are particularly critical for the user.” See below, Developers neglect privacy, security in health apps ,
On a more upbeat note, new contributor Patricia McMillan has provided a couple of recent posts from her LinkedIn blog. These give practical advice on why you shouldn’t ask an expert and on how to engage an audience, see below, The curse of knowledge: Why it’s so hard to make sense and Audience not engaged? Give yourself a dose of empathy.
Current Issue
Articles in the current Issue cover:
Are Smartphones Making Us Dumber?
“In cases where decisions have big consequences, it could be important for people to distinguish their own knowledge and not assume they know something when they actually don’t.”
Developers neglect privacy, security in health apps
“Today the majority of health apps do not offer the user sufficient measures to protect their data.”
The curse of knowledge: Why it’s so hard to make sense
George Bernard Shaw said, “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”
Audience not engaged? Give yourself a dose of empathy
“Establishing empathy for the other person’s perspective is one of the most important, and most difficult, things to do when you are preparing for a presentation or a meeting. ”
Events
“The World’s most successful Awards Program”
Consensus (www.consensus.com.au) runs a series of Awards Programs that identify the most innovative technology designed and developed in Australia (and some in New Zealand ). Over 400 evaluations of innovation have been conducted by the 130 Judges since the Awards were started in 2000. Recent independent analysis of the Winners of the Awards shows that 9 out of 10 (90%) of the Winners of Consensus Awards have gone on to perform exceptionally well internationally. The same research showed that across the board, the companies have enjoyed over 1200% increase in sales or value since they have won Awards.
Based upon these achievements, Consensus can truly claim to be the World’s Most Successful Awards Program. In June 2015, a Consensus Showcase will profile over 100 CEOs of previous winners. The value of the companies that will be present is in excess of $8 Billion. At the same event, Consensus will be presenting the Consensus Student Innovation Awards, Consensus IT Professional Awards, Consensus IT Writers Awards and the BigData Innovation Awards. For more information please emailcontact@consensus.com.au
Ted Smillie
QESP Chairman