Peter Davies looks at the challenges facing designers, educators and businesses in dealing with emerging technology
Rapid obsolescence
In fast-moving areas such as consumer electronics, competitor products will be introduced at an ever faster rate.
Ask yourself: How do I get advanced information on what is in the pipeline to give myself time to react?
Global knowledge
We are familiar with the changing and widening geographic base for manufacturing, particularly into low labour-cost areas. But product development and design are beginning to follow.
Ask yourself: How do I keep abreast of global trials of emerging technologies?
Technology skills
Familiarity with the current range of technology embedded in the product, or the manufacturing process behind it, is no guarantee that a wider knowledge base will not be needed next.
Ask yourself: Do I buy in the skills or develop them in-house?
Design-tool revolution
Mainstream design and visualisation tools have progressed through 2D computer-aided design, 3D solid modelling, parametric modelling, virtual reality, rapid prototyping, and desktop 3D printing.
Ask yourself: Are my competitors likely to make better use of new combinations of these tools and capabilities, especially when they are web-enabled?
Disenfranchised customers
Use of internet technologies with customers should drive down your transaction costs but might alienate some people.
Ask yourself: How do I avoid marginalising those that are unfamiliar with the technologies or don’t have access to them - such as elderly customers?
Global competition in services
Product markets have been truly global for decades but most services have developed slowly from face-to-face provision and are predominantly national. The internet will bring truly global competitors in front of your customers for the first time.
Ask yourself: Do I have a strategy to respond to this global challenge?
Aggregated services
The increasing transparency and comparability of services over the internet means that potential customers will have surveys at their fingertips.
Ask yourself: How do I aggregate additional features around our services, perhaps from other providers, while remaining distinctive?
Constant provision
The commercial world and public expectation are moving to 24/7 availability. But your public services are still dominated by traditional working hours and shift patterns.
Ask yourself: How can I use the new communications technologies to give greater flexibility while still keeping an eye on costs?
Direct delivery
What aspects of your services, whether healthcare, civic amenity, or libraries, can you deliver directly to your community? Telephones have been ubiquitous but essentially passive - more than 60% of your community will now have internet access and mobile telephones.
Ask yourself: What can this do for my business?
Cross-disciplinary topics
Technology integration means that the most exciting new applications, likely to inspire the young, involve science from several traditional disciplines.
Ask yourself: Is my own knowledge base broad enough to handle this confidently?
Delivering the basics
One vital aspect of education is to give a good grounding in the basics of a topic that will apply in numerous circumstances.
Ask yourself: How do I ensure that the basics are not seen as boring and irrelevant?
Innovation strategies
Whether your activities are market led, technology led, or service led you need a strategy to plot a route map for change and the acquisitions of the appropriate technology.
Ask yourself: Do I have this essential process in place?
Mass customisation
Users of services and products will increasingly reject a one-size-fits-all approach. They will pay premium prices for something customised to their needs, but will still expect mass-production quality and quick availability.
Ask yourself: Do I have a strategy to deal with varied demand?