http://www.cheskin.com/blog/perspectives/ en-us http://www.cheskin.com/blog/blog/archives/001129.html Virgin America has succeeded in redefining the flying experience for me. This is no mean feat, as airlines have to work within many constraints like FAA regulations, safety considerations, and limited space. But constraints can actually spark creativity, and Virgin has managed to be creative in just the right ways... Innovation & Design Lee Shupp 2010-01-20T12:45:52-08:00 http://www.cheskin.com/blog/blog/archives/001080.html Can a company blunt its innovation edge if it listens to its customers too closely? This is the question that Miguel Helft posed in this Sunday's New York Times. The article describes the departure of Douglas Bowman, a senior designer, from Google, who said on his blog that Google was... Consumer Technology Lee Shupp 2009-05-11T21:15:13-08:00 http://www.cheskin.com/blog/blog/archives/001041.html Consumer spending has accounted for about two thirds of the economy until recently. During the dot com crash, and after 9/11, consumers were encouraged to spend money to help get the economy back on track. We now know, however, that the levels of consumer spending that we've come to expect... Consumer Technology Lee Shupp 2009-02-17T19:22:31-08:00 http://www.cheskin.com/blog/blog/archives/001034.html Tough times test leaders. Turbulent economies amplify the decisions of leaders, both good and bad. Good judgment can help a company thrive even in rough times, while bad judgment can be lethal in a an environment of thin margins and little room for error. It's been interesting to observe several... Innovation & Design Lee Shupp 2009-01-30T09:40:46-08:00 http://www.cheskin.com/blog/blog/archives/001030.html I spent a couple of afternoons exploring MacWorld this past week, immersing myself in All Things Apple. Here are my impressions, and why I think it makes sense for Apple to pull out of MacWorld to participate in CES instead.... Consumer Technology Lee Shupp 2009-01-12T07:37:01-08:00 http://www.cheskin.com/blog/blog/archives/001028.html Those of us trained in foresight (futures) are often asked to predict hot new trends at the beginning of each year. Good futurists never predict what "the" future will be, although we are often asked to do so. We instead consider alternative futures, using scenarios, visioning, and other foresight tools... Consumer Technology Lee Shupp 2009-01-07T15:10:15-08:00 http://www.cheskin.com/blog/blog/archives/001025.html I recently spoke at the 6Sight Conference on the Future of Imaging in Monterey, CA. Hosted by Alexis Gerard, the conference attracts the big innovators in the industry, including Canon, Kodak, Nikon, Microsoft, HP, and many start-ups with promising new imaging technology. I spoke on a panel about the future... Consumer Technology Lee Shupp 2008-12-03T09:41:14-08:00 http://www.cheskin.com/blog/blog/archives/001006.html Veeeery interesting article in the New York Times today entitled "Moving Mountains with the Brain, Not a Joystick." We discussed brain/computer interface possibilities on the "Kill Your Mouse" panel at South by Southwest Interactive this spring, but I can't say that I thought I'd see a commercial application of it... Innovation & Design Lee Shupp 2008-06-08T20:40:07-08:00 http://www.cheskin.com/blog/blog/archives/001005.html This blog is a tribute to Bo Diddley, who was a musician, cultural icon, and astute innovator. I salute the man, his life, and his music. I also salute his ability to innovate, and his marketing genius. Now, you may ask, what does Bo Diddley have to do with innovation... Innovation & Design Lee Shupp 2008-06-08T18:23:30-08:00 http://www.cheskin.com/blog/blog/archives/000993.html Bill Gates announced this week that Windows 7 would include a touch interface. (Windows 7 is the code name for the next version of the Window OS, reportedly coming in 2010.) This is big news, as it is the ultimate mainstreaming of the touch interface introduced to the mass market... Consumer Technology Lee Shupp 2008-02-22T09:22:31-08:00 http://www.cheskin.com/blog/blog/archives/000978.html The New York Times business section ran an interesting article in the Sunday paper today, entitled "If It's Retail, Is It Still Rock?" The article describes the steps that many musicians and bands are taking to increase revenue in an era of declining CD sales. It includes a very fun... Positioning & Branding Lee Shupp 2007-10-28T17:13:25-08:00 http://www.cheskin.com/blog/blog/archives/000967.html As you probably recall, I have started the Big Rip, converting my entire CD collection into 256 Kbps mp3s on a network hard drive. My original plan was to rip all of my CDs, starting with roots music that I use as a musician, then going to catalog rock, jazz,... Consumer Technology Lee Shupp 2007-08-26T13:52:21-08:00 http://www.cheskin.com/blog/blog/archives/000966.html I've been trying to describe the difference between my iPod and my Zune to people, and here's the best description that I've come up with. My iPod is like my model girlfriend, and my Zune is like the girl next door.... Consumer Technology Lee Shupp 2007-08-25T16:06:10-08:00 http://www.cheskin.com/blog/blog/archives/000965.html I am beginning the Big Rip. That's right, I’m ripping all of my CD's and selling them. All of them. I love the convenience that digital media offers, and I’m tired of the clutter and confusion of CDs. As a musician and dedicated music fan, I literally have thousands of... Consumer Technology Lee Shupp 2007-08-25T09:38:34-08:00 http://www.cheskin.com/blog/blog/archives/000958.html I was passing through Heathrow Airport in London last week, and I noticed that Prince has created yet another controversy, this time by striking a deal to include his new CD in the Sunday edition of the London Daily Mail newspaper. Record stores are rioting, fuming that this CD giveaway... Lee Shupp 2007-07-22T19:05:01-08:00