One of the topics that especially fascinates me is IoT — the Internet of Things. For better or worse, there has been a lot of hype around this area, especially as sensors get cheaper and wearables like the Fitbit become more popular. Recently, I spoke to a crowd of Middle Eastern executives about the future… Continue reading How Smart Cities and IoT Will Shape Our Future [VIDEO]
Category: Innovation
Is Now the Best or Worst Time to Start Something? [VIDEO]
A lot of people are worried about China, Greece, and the markets in general. But should that stop you from starting a company or trying your hand at a new idea? I deliver the answer eight seconds into this interview with Behind the Brand, but I want to add this: there is never a “best”… Continue reading Is Now the Best or Worst Time to Start Something? [VIDEO]
The Role of Visual Content in Storytelling [VIDEO]
Merely seeing the Disney or Apple logos will make you more creative. Why is that? What colors should you use if we want our logo to feel more exciting or rugged? Why does Amazon use orange and yellow for its “Buy” buttons? Recently, I sat down with Behind the Brand and Visage to discuss Captivology… Continue reading The Role of Visual Content in Storytelling [VIDEO]
On Twitter and Short-Term Stock Fluctuations
Twitter has had a rough few weeks, but does that mean it’s destined to spiral downward? Hell no. 18% stock price drops are great for headlines, but they certainly don’t tell the story of a company’s long-term trajectory. So let’s get the obvious out of the way: Twitter’s getting punched in the gut at the… Continue reading On Twitter and Short-Term Stock Fluctuations
When Two Apps Are Simpler Than One
If there’s one entrepreneurial mantra that Steve Jobs taught us, it’s this: Simplify! Complex products fail. The complex MySpace lost to the simple Facebook. The simplicity of Snapchat, Instagram and Dropbox transformed them into world-class products. Tumblr famously cut a feature when it added a new one, always keeping the interface clean as hell. Foursquare,… Continue reading When Two Apps Are Simpler Than One
Oculus Rift: Facebook’s $2 Billion Attempt to Seize Its Destiny From Apple and Google
Can’t say I saw this one coming. Facebook, on the heels of its $19 billion blockbuster acquisition of WhatsApp, has dropped another $2 billion (plus a potential $300 million in earn-outs) for Oculus VR, the company that makes Rift. If you haven’t tried the Rift, it’s extraordinary. The first time I played with it, I… Continue reading Oculus Rift: Facebook’s $2 Billion Attempt to Seize Its Destiny From Apple and Google
Announcing “Captivology”, My Book on the Science of Attention (HarperCollins/2015)
Dear friends, family, colleagues, and supporters,
I’m thrilled to announce my first non-fiction book, working title “Captivology: The Science of Capturing People’s Attention“, due in early 2015 from HarperOne, an imprint of HarperCollins.
I hope you will sign up for updates on Captivology through my book’s website. You can follow @Captivology on Twitter or like Captivology on Facebook. You can also follow @BenParr for regular updates. And finally, here’s a link for sharing this announcement.
Microsoft & Nokia Can Carve a Niche in Mobile, But Wearables Is the Next Battleground
Microsoft + Nokia still has room to grow in the smartphone market, but perhaps the software giant should focus on the future of mobile: wearables. Originally, I intended to write a thought piece bashing the Microsoft-Nokia deal. On the surface, Windows Phone feels much like BlackBerry, whose moves I correctly predicted were too little, too… Continue reading Microsoft & Nokia Can Carve a Niche in Mobile, But Wearables Is the Next Battleground
What Will It Take For Us to Get Angry?
Edward Snowden, The Guardian and The Washington Post know how to keep a story in the news. Instead of dumping all of their leaked documents to the public, they are slowly releasing information on PRISM, the NSA and more to the press in waves. Drip. Drip. Drip. Brilliant strategy by Snowden on these leaks: Drip,… Continue reading What Will It Take For Us to Get Angry?
My Thoughts on the Future of Tech on Bloomberg TV
Bloomberg TV interviewed me at the Dublin Web Summit last week, asking for some of my predictions for what are going to be the future of tech. They also interviewed a few others, including the amazing Joe Green (Causes, NationBuilder) and David Shing (AOL’s Digital Prophet). They didn’t have time to air all my predictions,… Continue reading My Thoughts on the Future of Tech on Bloomberg TV