What's Emerging Mid-November 2020
A newsletter on interesting stuff that is emerging around the world so you can think about strategy
Introduction
Welcome to our mid-November newsletter.
In the next few weeks, Paul will be working on a platform strategy in the cleaning industry. He is also working on a community vision project for one Melbourne Council, and another council on foresight approaches to leadership. He is also working on creating a consortium in the Not for Profit sector to assist in the “Build it Back Better” movement. He is also participating in a working group with the Leading Edge Forum in the UK looking at the industrialisation of robots.
If any of this interests you or you want to talk about the use of foresight in your strategy then please Contact Us
The Emergent Futures Team
In case you missed it. The most popular link from the last edition:
China Conducts Test Of Massive Suicide Drone Swarm Launched From A Box On A Truck
What are we Writing About?
Paul has had several family crises to deal with in the last two weeks and so has not written anything new. You can go to our HOME PAGE to see previous work and posts Or Contact Us if you want a discussion about anything in this newsletter that might apply to your organisation.
What’s Emerging?
Didi to Deliver First BYD Electric Cars to Drivers Within Months
Didi Chuxing will begin rolling out an electric vehicle developed with BYD Co. to its drivers in coming months, aiming to reduce costs throughout the world’s largest ride-hailing network. .…. Read More
TikTok partners with Shopify on social commerce
The deal aims to make it easier for Shopify’s over 1 million merchants to reach TikTok’s younger audience and drive sales. The partnership will eventually expand to include other in-app shopping features, as well, the companies said.
At launch, the agreement allows Shopify merchants to create, run and optimize their TikTok marketing campaigns directly from the Shopify dashboard by installing the new TikTok channel app from the Shopify App Store. Once installed, merchants will have access to the key functions from the TikTok For Business Ads Manager at their disposal....…. Read more
Gold Coast smoking ceremony for Indigenous babies part of new midwife program
The ceremony is part of a new program at Gold Coast University Hospital that aims to dismantle institutional racism and help First Nations families connect with their culture. It is also leading to better health outcomes for newborns…… babies born through the Indigenous midwifery program were six times less likely to be born prematurely and 11 times less likely to have a low birth weight than Indigenous babies born from mothers who did not have access to such care. …. Read more
Why Some Memories Seem Like Movies: 'Time Cells' Discovered In Human Brains
These time stamps seemed to help people recall when they had seen each word, and in what order, he says. And the brain probably uses the same approach when we're reliving an experience like falling off a bike.
The results help explain why people who have damage to the hippocampus may experience odd memory problems…. "These sequences are completely and absolutely gone in people with hippocampal lesions," ….. Read more
Amazon reportedly planning new service for its rural deliveries
Amazon may be looking to handle its own deliveries to rural areas rather than relying on the US Postal Service, according to several job postings. The e-commerce behemoth would rely on shipping hubs in rural areas under a plan called “wagon wheel,” a reference to Amazon’s hub-and-spoke supply chain. In Amazon’s terminology, a wagon wheel station provides support for smaller shipping facilities, according to The Information.…. Read more
Spotify premium subscribers up to 144 million in Q3
Total monthly average users (MAUs) grew by 29% year-on-year to 320 million, which was above the top end of the guidance range. There was a strong performance in India and Russia. …. Read more
In rural Japan robot monster wolves are being used to keep bears out of towns, stopping potential attacks
The robot animals consist of a 65-centimetre-long, 50cm-tall body covered with realistic-looking fur, featuring huge white fangs and flashing red eyes. When the sensors on them are triggered, the robot's scare tactics kick into action.The robot's eyes light up red and it emits emitting a variety of sounds, some of which are ear-splintering. …..…. Read more
Working from home? Then you should pay more tax for the privilege, say economists
To compensate for the money they aren't spending on commuting and lunch breaks, employees who choose to work from home should pay extra tax, according to Deutsche Bank's economists. In a new report, the bank's researchers argue that the billions in tax money that could be generated as a result could be redistributed to low-income workers who cannot carry out their jobs remotely, like nurses and factory workers.
The report presents a series of radical ideas meant to rebuild businesses and societies after the COVID-19 pandemic, and describes itself as a controversial set of proposals, meant to inspire debate among decision makers..…. Read more
SHUTTERSTOCK ACQUIRES AI-DRIVEN MUSIC PLATFORM AMPER MUSIC
The move adds to a growing trend of stock image sites getting involved in rights-free music: earlier this year, Shutterstock rival Adobe inked a deal to carry rights-free music catalogs from both Epidemic Sound and Jamendo, while Getty Images also hosts a royalty-free music library powered by Epidemic Sound. Welcome to the commoditisation of music....…. Read more
Rest super fund commits to net-zero emission investments after Brisbane man sues
A 25-year-old man from Brisbane has successfully sued one of Australia's biggest super funds over its handling of climate change, forcing it to commit to net-zero emissions for its investments by 2050. Mr McVeigh alleged Rest had breached the Superannuation Industry Act and the Corporations Act by failing to manage those risks — which could include fossil fuel companies plummeting in value or infrastructure being damaged by extreme weather. ….Read more
Finland “ends” homelessness and provides shelter for all in need
In Finland, the number of homeless people has fallen sharply. The reason: The country applies the “Housing First” concept. Those affected by homelessness receive a small apartment and counselling – without any preconditions. 4 out of 5 people affected thus make their way back into a stable life. And: All this is cheaper than accepting homelessness . …. Read more
BHP targets China's steel sector emissions as climate pressure builds
Australia's top miner, BHP, has taken the first step in its plan to bring down the greenhouse gas emissions caused by customers of its coal and iron ore around the world, signing a deal to fund decarbonisation initiatives for China's biggest steelmaker. BHP and China Baowu Steel Group (formerly known as Baosteel) have entered into a five-year agreement to work on projects aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of the highly emissions-intensive steel sector, estimated to be responsible for up to 10 per cent of global emissions..…. Read more
Ergon Readies Plan To Teach EV Owners How To Play Nice With The Grid
“It is likely that a small but growing number of owners of V2G [vehicle-to-grid] capable EVs may seek to discharge energy from their EV to their building or home, and possibly even export it to the grid.
“In addition, some customers with V2G-capable EVs could be compelled to charge their vehicle at public charging stations, sometimes at no cost, and bring that energy home to power their house, potentially daily. This concept may even be more cost-effective than also investing in stationary batteries in the home”.. …..Read more
'Cooling paint' could cut emissions from buildings
A new type of white paint has the potential to cool buildings and reduce the reliance on air conditioning, say researchers.
In a study, the new product was able to reflect 95.5% of sunlight and reduce temperatures by 1.7C compared to the ambient air conditions. The engineers involved say the impact is achieved by adding different-sized particles of calcium carbonate. .… Read more
Business Tips
Mendooran grower Pete Rothwell explains how data driven decision making is paying off
There is no secret recipe or unusual approach to the 300 hectare crop that judges of a recent canola competition predicted may yield in excess of six tonnes to the hectare and awarded first place. It's just the culmination of a number of on-farm changes Mendooran's Pete Rothwell has been making on the 1600ha property in the past seven years that are producing big rewards. Traditionally the property was only focused on winter cropping and something was always grown each year. Paul: An interesting story on using data to not do something. Very hard for farmers to sit and watch empty paddocks but more of this is happening and leading to greater overall profitability. This has wider implications than agriculture. Read more
Squarespace offers new member areas service
An interesting approach. We might even swap over from Substack to use it . .….. Read more
Microsoft urges users to stop using phone-based multi-factor authentication
Microsoft is urging users to abandon telephone-based multi-factor authentication (MFA) solutions like one-time codes sent via SMS and voice calls and instead replace them with newer MFA technologies, like app-based authenticators and security keys. (Paul: I am using a Yubikey and an authenticator app. You should take this seriously) …. Read more
For our American Subscribers: Thinking About a Holiday Gathering? Look at This Troubling Map First
NOT TO NAG, but if you’re considering seeing family for the holidays, I need you to take a look at this map. It’s a color-coded guide to Covid-19 risk level, sorted by geography (at the US county level) and crowd size. First, you choose the location where the gathering would happen. Then, at left, you can choose an event size with the slider, from 10 to 5,000 people, and watch the risk of at least one Covid-positive person being there skyrocket the bigger the gathering gets. In some locations where the virus is spreading out of control, like in parts of the Dakotas, that chance is darn near 100 percent (Paul: If you are in the USA please be very careful when considering Thanksgiving plans. Stay safe as you can - and that applies anywhere in the world where transmission is rising)……Read more
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