What's Emerging mid-September 2021
A newsletter on interesting stuff that is emerging around the world so you can think about strategy
Introduction
Welcome to our mid-September newsletter for 2021.
In the next few weeks, Paul will continue working with a council on their community vision and scenario writing for an ASX listed company about the future of the Pandemic. He will also be working on a value adding strategy for agriculture in Queensland and working with the AFL Players Association on their next strategic plan (with futurist Reanna Browne who is the lead consultant). Paul will also continue working in his role as advisor for foresight and strategy to Save the Children Australia and will be presenting to a CEO Institute Syndicate on how to think about the future.
Paul will also continue acting as Executive Director of Social Venture Partners Melbourne although that role will phase out by the end of September as a new permanent Executive Director takes up the role.
To all our subscribers in NSW and Victoria our thoughts are with you. Here in Melbourne we know how tough it is to be in lockdown for COVID for an extended period but until we get much higher vaccination rates there is no alternative but to grind it out. Please stay safe.
The Emergent Futures Team
In case you missed it. The most popular link from the last edition:
The Atlas robot parkour robotic video was our most clicked link from our last edition.
What are we Writing About?
Paul presented to the leadership team at Cardinia Council on how to think about the future and implement a structured scenario and strategy process into council and executive team processes.
You can see the presentation by going to our Home Page and looking under our latest work.
What’s Emerging
China's factory inflation hits 13-year high as materials costs soar
The producer price index (PPI) rose 9.5% from a year earlier in August, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said on Thursday, faster than the 9.0% increase tipped in a Reuters poll and the 9.0% reported in July. That was the fastest pace since August 2008. .…. Read More
Lab-grown woolly mammoths could walk the Earth in six years if geneticist’s new start-up succeeds
Proponents also say rewilding the Arctic with lab-grown woolly mammoths could slow global warming by slowing the melting of the permafrost, where methane is currently trapped...…. Read more
World-first research from the University of Queensland hopes to cure cancer, solve obesity using 'plant medicine'
Imagine if you could consume cheaper, environmentally friendly medicine through edible plants that have been genetically engineered as "natural drugs" grown in your own back yard. .….. Read more
Rivian and The Nature Conservancy Collaborate to Keep Adventure Wild
Electric vehicle maker Rivian and global conservation group The Nature Conservancy (TNC) today announced a collaboration dedicated to preserving biodiversity and fighting climate change…… Read more
Why are two million people still getting Netflix DVDs by post?
Of all the huge numbers marking out Netflix’s rapid growth, perhaps this is the most surprising: there are still more than two million people in the United States getting Netflix DVDs by post. ….Read more
‘I guess I’m having a go at killing it’: Salman Rushdie to bypass print and publish next book on Substack
The author on why he’s chosen to release his next book on the online platform – and why he hopes digital won’t see off the medium he loves most. Paul: there is lots of experimentation in this space right now. I am reading Hardcore Software by Steven Sinofsky which is a serialised book on Substack on the history of Microsoft and computing..….. Read more
Homebuyers aren’t taking climate change seriously, says Redfin CEO
The CEO of real estate brokerage Redfin told CNBC on he believes there has yet to be a serious reckoning among U.S. homebuyers about the dangers climate change presents. “The buyers just keep marching into the jaws of destruction,” Redfin’s Glenn Kelman said in an interview...…. Read more
Google’s New AI Photo Upscaling Tech is Jaw-Dropping
Photo enhancing in movies and TV shows is often ridiculed for being unbelievable, but research in real photo enhancing is actually creeping more and more into the realm of science fiction. Just take a look at Google’s latest AI photo upscaling tech.
..….. Read more
Wireless charging room powers your devices without plugs or cables
Researchers from the University of Tokyo have built a room that is able to wirelessly and simultaneously power multiple devices, such as phones, fans and lights...…..Read more
AusMV strikes deal to bring 19,000 all-electric utes with 800km range to Australia
Slated for arrival on Australian roads in 2023, the Atlis XT promises a full swag of features fit for any tradesperson, off-road adventurer or weekend warrior.And going by the specifications on the company’s website, this is a seriously heavy-duty vehicle.
Specs include capacity to tow 15-tonne trailers on a gooseneck, a bed up to 8-feet long, either single or dual motor set up with up to 447kW (600hp) peak power, more than 16,000Nm torque, 0-100km/hr in under 5 seconds and a maximum 250kWh battery with up to 800km claimed driving range...….….Read more
From bespoke seats to titanium arms, 3D printing is helping paralympians gain an edge
Major sporting events like the Paralympics are a breeding ground for technological innovation. Athletes, coaches, designers, engineers and sports scientists are constantly looking for the next improvement that will give them the edge. Over the past decade, 3D printing has become a tool to drive improvements in sports like running and cycling, and is increasingly used by paralympic athletes. …….Read more
Apple secures first states to support digital driver’s licenses, but privacy questions linger
Apple said it has so far secured two states, Arizona and Georgia, to bring digital driver’s license and state IDs. Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma and Utah are expected to follow, but a timeline for rolling out wasn’t given.…. Read more
Wind Catching Systems designs giant floating wind farm with 117 turbines
Norwegian company Wind Catching Systems is developing a floating offshore wind power generator that could produce renewable energy for 80,000 homes at prices comparable to traditional fossil fuels.Named the Windcatcher, the structure would contain more than a hundred rotors stacked vertically within a 300-metre-high framework. Paul: this seems impossible but who knows? Maybe the theory behind it works in a different practical execution?....…..Read more
Better Than Batteries? A Startup That’s Storing Energy in Concrete Blocks Just Raised $100 Million
The method was inspired by pumped hydro, which has been around since the 1920s and uses surplus generating capacity to pump water up into a reservoir. When the water is released, it flows down through turbines and generates energy just like conventional hydropower. Now imagine the same concept, but with heavy solid blocks and a tall tower rather than water and a reservoir. Paul: This seems more practical and distributable than the previous story...……. Read more
Business Tips
Maximizing Fit for Cloth and Medical Procedure Masks to Improve Performance and Reduce SARS-CoV-2 Transmission and Exposure, 2021
Paul: Given we are going to be seeing more COVID cases and exposures this is useful information from the CDC in the USA. I have started double masking with a knotted surgical mask and a cloth mask over that when going inside shops now as a result o reading this…… Read more
Analysis of the Google Work from Home Analysis
A very good Twitter thread critique of a study that Google has done and why the data they are measuring might not be the right data to look at. Important to think about when thinking about your work form home strategy..……Read more
And Another Twitter Thread : Sahil Bloom
What is the single greatest piece of advice you’ve ever received? Paul: I particularly like the good bed, good boots, good tires one...…. Read more
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