Data Download: Twenty, Twenty, Two.
Data Download: Twenty, Twenty, Two. Optimism — amidst complexity View this email in your browser
New Year, New Optimism
Once again, the tech industry began the new year with a bang as Sony unexpectedly revealed a pivot to cars with Sony Mobility and a Vision-S SUV prototype. Elsewhere, OpenSimulator provided a glimpse of what a decentralized metaverse might look like, and Apple’s market cap briefly topped $3 Trillion after a relentless rally.
There is something magical about the small window of limitless optimism and openness to the opportunities ahead upon the arrival of a New Year. But if you are tempted to fall back into your old habits and patterns, here are the best apps for sticking to your New Year’s Resolutions. On the other hand, if you are heading back into the office looking to do things a little differently, TNW offered 5 data-driven reasons why you should focus on Instagram carousels to increase your engagement in 2022.
Predictably, hybrid working and the great resignation continue to dominate conversations in the workplace. But here are 7 hybrid work hurdles that you might have overlooked. If we dare to look away from the shiny gadgets at CES, John Deere’s self-driving tractor is stirring a debate on AI in farming as the whole world begins to explore the art of the possible.
Whether it’s listening to conversations around how stakeholder capitalism is leveraging tech for good or exploring how diversity & equity can drive product innovation, there are reasons to be optimistic about in 2022, along with our focus on the complexity of the world around us.
As always, we welcome your thoughts, feedback, or suggestions Steve@NYCMediaLab.org
Steven Rosenbaum
Executive Director
The NYC Media Lab
Must-Read
OpenSimulator Offers a Glimpse of What a Decentralized Metaverse Might Look Like
The metaverse has already achieved buzzword status. However, before ordering your full-body haptic feedback system and embracing a Ready Player One lifestyle, there are still many questions that remain unanswered. For example, will many big tech companies build fragmented ecosystems with incompatible systems? And will we be able to jump from one metaverse world to another?
An open-source project called OpenSimulator dares to explore how users will resist locked-down corporate metaverses and demand the freedom to jump seamlessly between virtual worlds.
Fast Company/ 5 min read
Sony Shows off SUV, Will Explore Building Electric Cars as ‘Sony Mobility Inc’
For several years, tech journalists have continued to focus on whether or not Apple will be producing a vehicle. But Sony caught them all off guard at CES. Sony’s Chairman, President, and CEO Kenichiro Yoshida revealed a brand new prototype of its Vision S concept electric car and announced a new division called Sony Mobility Inc. News that a Sony car could be with us much sooner than many could have predicted is one of the first big tech surprises of 2020.
Tech Crunch/ 2 min read
Tech + Media
Instagram Carousels Should Be the Center of Your 2022 Social Media Strategy
Understanding Instagram’s engagement algorithm is a never-ending quest for anyone working in social media who is challenged with preparing and adapting to whatever may come. Instagram carousels have been steadily rising in popularity in recent months. But TNW recently revealed 5 data-driven reasons why anyone serious about increasing their Instagram engagement in 2022 should focus on carousels.
TNW/ 4 min read
7 Hybrid Work Hurdles Which You May Have Overlooked
As the great resignation continues to gather pace, retaining talent was a high priority for many returning to the office last week. Keeping hybrid working employees motivated, engaged, and excited about internal growth opportunities has revealed a few teething issues with the new ways of working. But these often overlooked hurdles highlight a few problems seeping into many workplaces that could be responsible for why so many organizations are losing top talent.
Fast Company/ 4 min read
Apple’s Market Cap Briefly Tops $3 Trillion After Relentless Rally
It’s hard to imagine now that Apple very nearly went under in the 1990s. But, fast forward to Monday, January 3, 2022, and the tech giant briefly became the world’s first $3 trillion company which is greater than the GDP Of The UK.
Apple’s stock price has risen by 40% in the last year alone and with the Phone 14 and new AirPods on the horizon. When combined with increased rumors around a VR headset with augmented-reality features, we shouldn’t be too surprised if a $3 trillion market cap becomes the new normal for Apple.
Bloomberg/ 2 min read
What We’re Watching
Samsung at CES 2022 in 8 Minutes
Keeping up with the non-stop announcements at CES can be exhausting. Samsung raised a few eyebrows with its Second Life Metaverse, which nobody asked for. But they did wow audiences with a portable projector to watch Netflix anywhere along with a wide range of QLED sets and other gadgets. Thankfully, this 8 minute will quickly get you up to speed with all of Samsungs big announcements.
If the video left you wanting more, you can also catch up with all the Sony announcements at CES 2022, including a new electric car and VR headset.
Engadget YouTube/ 8 min watch
What We’re Listening To
Stakeholder Capitalism — Tech For Good
While the value of big tech companies has soared, what problems has that created? A lack of market competition and the impact on economies, data protection concerns, falling public trust. So is big tech too big, and what should be done? These are just a few of the questions explored in the World Economic Forum podcast.
Spotify/ 24 min listen
Virtual Events & Jobs
The NYC Media Lab (us!) is Hiring.
We have two amazing roles as we continue to grow in 2022. We’re hiring for an AD/Marketing and AD/Programs, and if you know someone who would be great, please ask them to check out www.NYCMediaLab.org/Job — or maybe it’s you! Reach out to learn more.
Future of Work Summit
Wednesday, January 12, 2022
The post-pandemic workforce demands a new level of flexibility, which has set into play two new driving forces. The Future of Work summit reimagines the FoW with automation, collaboration, and communication technology and what these forces mean for technical decision-makers.
Use Diversity & Equity to Drive Product Innovation
Wednesday, January 12, 2022
Why do diversity, equity, and inclusion matter to product managers? What are the key questions product teams should ask, beyond accessibility, when building products with DEI in mind? How do you build an inclusive mindset to drive product innovation? These are just a few of the questions that will be answered.
The 7 Wastes of Software Development
Wednesday, January 12, 2022
How do we unnecessarily lose 40–70% of our workdays to “Death by 1000 Cuts”? This talk promises to cover the history of the 7 Wastes, first established in manufacturing and then translated to software development.
The event will also cover their legacy and provide an opportunity to engage in group exercises and discuss ways to address and mitigate these challenges in our workplace.
A Deeper Look
Self-Driving Tractor Stirs Debate on AI in Farming
DEERE & CO. helped mechanize agriculture in 1837 with the first commercially successful steel plow. Here at CES 2022, its chief technology officer unveiled a fully autonomous AI tractor and called the technology a monumental shift that is every bit as big as the transition from horse to tractor.
Tesla’s AI approach to self-driving cars and trucks is often the subject of many a passionate debate. But increasing automation and control of the resulting data are beginning to raise questions about the role of human farmers.
Wired/ 4 min read
Read More Today’s newsletter written in partnership with Neil C. Hughes, the Tech Blogger and host of Tech Talks Daily
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