Capitalogix

What It Was Like Buying a Computer in 1994

We take for granted a lot of the technology we have today. Computers and phones have evolved so fast that it's hard to remember that they haven't been around for many years. When my youngest son was born in 1993,  cassette tapes and the Sony Walkman were still popular, I had a wired phone in my car, and we had a Macintosh-II in the study. 

Everything in this photo now exists in the cheapest of smartphones. 

For a blast from the past and a look back at what used to be top-of-the-line ... here's a video of people buying a computer in 1994. 

 

via David Hoffman

Video transfer and playback. 160-megabyte hard drive. 32 megahertz. All for the low price of $2,000. 

Pretty cool to see how far we've come!  Still, someday soon, they will look back at the tech we have now as "primitive" and "quaint".

I can't wait!

Here Are Some Links For Your Weekly Reading - October 4th, 2020

Did you watch the first presidential debate this week? I have friends on both sides of the fence, but we all agreed the debate was a mess. 

Here are some of the posts that caught my eye recently. Hope you find something interesting.

Lighter Links:

• Don't Neglect the Thing that Makes You Weird - People Probably Admire it. (Freakonomics)
• Mindfulness for Skeptics. (RealSimple)
• Elon Musk: Neuralink Brain Implant Will Improve 'Bandwidth' of Human Communication. (CNet)
• The Typical Progression of Covid-19 Virus. (CNBC)
• Why Magic Mushrooms are the next Big Booming (and Legal!) Drug Market. (Observer)

 

 

Trading Links:

• President Trump Tests Positive for Covid. Why the Stock Market Isn't Getting Hammered. (Barrons)
• There's No Place to Hide Anymore When the Stock Market Plunges. (Wall Street Journal)
• Big U.S. Banks to Report Profit Plunge as Pandemic Recession Takes Hold. (Investing)
• Manhattan Apartment Sales Tumble 46%, Leaving 10,000 Homes on the Market. (DailyMail)
• SEC is Willing to Try' a Tokenized ETF, Chairman Says. (CoinDesk)

 

Can A Minute Be Faster? A Look At The Internet Minute

As I get older, time seems to move faster ... but it's also true that as I get older, more is accomplished every minute. 

Technology is a powerful force function.

Every couple of years I revisit a chart about how much data is generated every minute on the internet.  

In reverse chronological order, here's 2018, 2015, and 2011. 

Here's an excerpt from 2015 for some perspective: 

Compared to 2008 here is what's happened with social networks:

• The number of people online has more than doubled from 1.4 billion to over 3 billion
• Facebook has gone from 80 million users to more than 1.4 billion
• Twitter had 2 million accounts and now it is 300 million and counting.
• The number of smartphones was 250 million in 2008 and today there are more than 2 billion. That is an 800% increase!

Today this is what happens every minute on the web.

• 4 million search queries on Google
• Facebook users share 2.46 million pieces of content
• Email users send 204 million messages

Over the course of its (pretty short) history, the internet has been arguably the most important battlefield for relevancy and innovation. 

So, what does the internet look like in 2020?

DOMO via VisualCapitalist

Partially as a result of the quarantine, you're seeing an increase in digital cash transfers with tools like Venmo, an increase in e-commerce shops like Shopify, and an increase in (you guessed it) collaboration tools like Zoom or Microsoft Teams. 

This year, DOMO also created a chart that shows the services that have appeared in the graphic since 2012. It's an interesting way to look at the relevancy and staying power of different companies and technologies. 

We're currently in a time period of massive competition and turnover. Innovation means incumbents are being challenged every day, and the status quo doesn't stay that way for long. Even within the S&P 500, you're seeing companies stay a member for shorter periods of time.  

You have to stay on your toes to maintain an edge. I think you can expect increased competition, increased volume, and as a result, increased noise vying for your attention or fueling your distraction. 

Here Are Some Links For Your Weekly Reading - September 27th, 2020

Here are some of the posts that caught my eye recently. Hope you find something interesting.

Lighter Links:

• AI Should Change What You Do, Not Just How You Do It. (HBR)
• Twitter CEO Explains How Bitcoin, Blockchain Will Revamp Its Business. (Decrypt)
• The 12 Best Fitness Apps Right Now. (GearPatrol)
• Scientists are Preparing to Implant the World's First Human Bionic Eye that Will Allow the Blind to See. (AOL)
• Freezing Bodies for Reanimation' in China and Why the Country's Cryonics Tech Has the Potential to Leapfrog the West. (South China Morning Post)

 

 

 

 

Trading Links:

• The 12 Richest Tech Billionaires in the World Ranked. (South China Morning Post)
• Wall Street is about to Start Trading Water for the First Time. (EuroNews)
• Why Investors Want 50% of Stocks above 200-Day Moving Average. (SeeItMarket)
• A Complete Mess: Traders Fear Volatility Long after Election Day. (Bloomberg)
• Wall Street's Campaign Donations to Biden are Five Times Larger Than Those Going to Trump. (CNN)

 

 

Do You Agree to These Terms?

One of the biggest lies on the internet (and there are too many lies to count) is "I have read and agree to the terms of service(ToS)."

There is a plug-in that might help.

Terms of Service Didn't Read has summaries of most ToS, ratings for their user-friendliness and a browser plug-in so when you're about to sign one you can make sure it's safe. 

via TOSDR

Unfortunately, many of the ToS tell you that they're going to use your data, sell it to spammers, etc. For example, I talked about how a shadowy Russian company was behind FaceApp and owned the rights to photos you uploaded. 

Luckily, not every clause in a ToS is legal, and won't necessarily hold up in court - but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be protecting yourself. 

So, check out TOSDR, it's not perfect ... but it's probably better than nothing.

AI & Intellectual Property With Rich Goldstein

It has been a crazy ride.

I studied psychology and philosophy at Duke in the early '80s.  Then I got both an MBA and a law degree at Northwestern University in Chicago. 

My first job out of school was doing corporate and securities work at a law firm in Dallas.  By the early '90s, I knew that I was an entrepreneur. 

Regardless, the path seemed random as I was going down it ... but looking back, it all seems to make some form of sense. 

I recently did a podcast with a patent lawyer friend, Rich Goldstein. We talk about that, what it's like working with my son, the difference between practicing law and creating AI, innovation, and the role of Intellectual Property and its protection. 

I think it's a good listen. Check it out. 

 

The Growth of Home Fitness (and Fitness Tracking)

Home fitness isn't a new trend, but we've come a long way from the Aerobics videos of my youth ...

The technology of home workouts has also improved a lot, even before COVID-19 put it into overdrive. 

From YouTube channels with any type of workout you could look for, to simple machines for any type of workout you're looking for. 

I've shared articles before about some of my favorite tools

• Carol – An AI Fitness bike specializing in High-Intensity Interval Training
• Power Plate – Whole Body Vibration to help with stretching and bodyweight exercises
• x3 Bar – Resistance Bands to replace weightlifting equipment
• Tonal – A smart home gym

So, how has the quarantine affected the industry?

via VisualCapitalist

Worldwide, health & fitness app downloads have grown by 46%. With a mass majority of that being in India. On top of downloads, daily active users have also increased by 24% worldwide. 

Is Home Fitness Here to Stay?

Health & fitness apps have been a big part of my arsenal, far before social distancing was a thing, and they'll continue to be an important part of my future fitness plans. 

Many people prefer the gym/class environment for workouts, so home workouts will never represent a major proportion of the market, but it's non-trivial and continues to grow. 

More likely to continue to grow in use are the tracking and mindfulness apps. 

I like several guided meditation apps.

• Calm
• Headspace
• Pzizz

In addition, I like these too.

• Focus@Will (background music for different moods)
• Brain.FM (AI created music to enhance focus, relaxation, meditation, naps & sleep)
• Meditation Music (5-minute songs, inhale at the bell, exhale at the next bell ... repeat)
• Zen Wellness (courses about meditation, Qi Gong, etc.)
• Muse (brain sensing headband and app to help you know whether you are relaxing)

I also recommend:

• Hapbee – A device that lets you choose how to feel
• Apollo Neuro – Wearable wellness and stress relief
• 40 Years of Zen – This is a 5-day program that leverages neurofeedback technology and guidance to help you unlock and expand your potential.

For fitness tracking, I use: 

• Oura Ring (personal health tracker that specializes in detailed sleep tracking & Heart Rate Variability measurement)
• Whoop (similar fitness tracker but targeted towards athletes & recovery)
• Apple Watch

 

Let me know if there is something that I should add to the list.

Here Are Some Links For Your Weekly Reading - September 12th, 2020

Here are some of the posts that caught my eye recently. Hope you find something interesting.

Lighter Links:

• Facebook Robots Shut down after They Talk to Each Other in Language Only They Understand. (Independent)
• Finding Beauty in the Imperfection. (Entrepreneur)
• Colors Evoke Similar Feelings around the World. (NeuroScienceNews)
• Alicia Keys: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert. (YouTube)
• How Conspiracy Theories are Shaping the 2020 Election and Shaking the Foundation of American Democracy. (Time)

 

Trading Links:

• Trillions What is a Trillion Dollars?(InformationIsBeautiful)
• NYSE Signals It Will Exit New Jersey If State Taxes Stock Trades. (Wall Street Journal)
• There are Now 17,000 Bitcoin Millionaires. (Decrypt)
• Are You an Investor or a Gambler? the Stock Market Knows. (Wall Street Journal)
• JPMorgan Creates New Team to Trade Shares of Pre-IPO Giants Including SpaceX, Robinhood, and Airbnb. (CNBC)

Innovator Mindsets

To some, new technology is a good thing.  To others, less is more.

Most people simply "tolerate" technology transitions, some people drive them, and others crave them and use them as a catalyst for growth or strategic advantage.

In the image, above, the blue line represents consumer adoption (taken from Geoffrey Moore's "Crossing the Chasm", while the yellow line represents market share. 

As you can see, only 2.5% of the population drive innovation (or adopt it early enough to help drive the Alpha & Beta versions of emerging technologies). 13.5% make up the Early adopters, who help get it ready for the mainstream.  Then the early and late majorities are the groups that ultimately consume (or use) the mature product. Meanwhile, Laggards are often forced kicking and screaming into “new” technologies as the early adopters are well on their way to subsequent iterations. 

Even if you are not an innovator, here are a few Innovator Mindsets that I find useful. 

1. You Believe There’s A Better Way
   • Wherever you are, you know that there is a best next step and you are eager to find it and take it.
   • You recognize that the opportunity for more (or better) often lies just beyond the constraints or problems of the current way.
   • The bigger future fuels your efforts. When initial excitement fades, understanding what the bigger future can bring helps you power through.
2. You Are Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
   • You understand that Pioneers sometimes take arrows in the back.
   • When creating a new reality, you expect some resistance as a result of the law of averages. Escaping the status quo takes a lot of momentum, but it’s worth it. 
   • You recognize when victory is near.  In a quirk of human nature, too many people quit just before they would have won. Don’t make that mistake.
3. You Know Where You're Going, Even If You Are Not Sure How You're Going To Get There
   • Your goal should be your North Star. A clear direction is important to ensure that activity leads to progress.
   • Measure progress and momentum rather than the distance from your goal.
   • It is easier to course-correct while in motion.
   • If you’re too committed to a path that isn’t leading in the right direction, you might find what Blockbuster, RadioShack, and Kodak found.
4. You Are Married To Questions (Not Necessarily Answers)
   • Everything works until it doesn’t; and nothing works forever.
   • It’s easy to find an answer and think it’s the right one, but there’s always a best next step or a better way.
   • Figure out what you want and how to get it. This is much more empowering than focusing on what you don’t want or why you can’t get it.
   • Ask questions that focus on opportunities or possibilities rather than challenges or what you want to avoid.
   • Energy flows where focus goes.
   • Commit to finding a way!

I plan on sharing more Innovator Mindsets.  Let me know what you think.

I Can't Believe It's Not Steak! (Yes, I Can)

Last week we talked about emerging technologies ... not mentioned were emerging technologies in the meat space. 

Most of us have seen the meat alternatives grow in popularity with vegan sausages, hamburgers & more. In fact, the meat substitute industry is valued at around $5 Billion, and is expected to grow to 8.1 billion by 2026.

I've tried an impossible burger, and while it's certainly not as good as a hamburger yet - it's better than I expected. 

The most recent innovation is 3d-printed meat. Yes, you can print steak. Now, 3D bioprinting is still very early in its lifecycle and is primarily being used for medical purposes. Theoretically, down the line, it could be used to create meat that didn't come from a true living animal. 

Today, however, an Israeli start-up is printing plant-based steaks that supposedly match the taste and texture of steak better than alternatives. 

via Reuters

Supposedly, 3D printing allows you to better capture the muscle, blood, and fat that characterizes real meat. 

These steaks are expected to be available at high-end European restaurants before the end of the year ... Would you try one?

Perhaps the most important question, if you could eat a steak that didn't come from a cow, but you couldn't taste the difference, would you be willing to switch?

At some point, I think it is likely for practical sustainability issues.

We live in interesting times!