Recurrent Patterns
Recurrent Patterns is a venture exploring strategies and insights around leading-edge companies, technology and cultural trends. Vaclav engages with leaders, entrepreneurs, scientists, authors and others who can share their perspectives in long-form conversations.
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Make Computers Work For You
I was challenged by some of my readers (rightly so, I might add) to put my words into action. But I also thought it would be a good idea to search for other interesting technologies and see how they might contribute to this idea.The result? I've started a fun project, Know It All. Let me show you how it works.
The death of the cookie as we know it
No more cookies for you. No, not the ones you snack on and blame for your weight-gain. We’re talking about the miniature files that your browser stores every time you visit any website. Everyone on the Internet wants to keep track of your browsing habits and history. Everyone wants to sell you something. You are the data and money source for all of them. Especially for the websites which offer you seemingly free services. Think…the Facebooks of the world.
Alexa's new wheels
Why would Amazon buy the company and pay $1.7 billion when you can just go and buy the latest model of iRobot Roomba i7+ (7550) Robot Vacuum. It has automatic dirt disposal. It empties itself for up to 60 days. It’s Wi-Fi connected, uses Smart Mapping and works with Alexa. It’s ideal for pet hair, carpets and hard floors. It comes in black. And Amazon can get it for $760 directly on its own website.
Personalization. Too close for comfort
We live in the world of instant gratification where everything seems to be just a click away. Everything is tailored to us. We can customize everything. It would lend itself to a conclusion that we should be able to customize every product for everyone.
Amazon Prime Health
Amazon Prime can get you anything in under one hour. Now it will include your health subscription. Amazon continues its strategy to provide as many goods and services for its customers as possible.
The Trojan AI
We all know the legend of the Trojan War – and how that tale ended, with the Greeks using a wooden statue of a horse to get their soldiers inside the enemy’s city. Once inside, the Greeks’ sneaky fighters opened the walled city’s gate from the inside and their army destroyed the place.
Metaverse - New concept, old design
Aren't you getting tired of this never ending hype of the Metaverse? We are led to believe that our current singleverse has become so boring and dangerous and old. And now we have to do something about it. We have to build the Metaverse. It is the only way forward. But before you get too excited, you come across an article, where the author is already listing everything that's bad before it even exists.
Happy 15th birthday to all of us
The iPhone is a prime example of what success looks like in terms of long term strategic thinking, technology innovation,marketing process and great execution. It’s something which every company should try to emulate as their recurrent pattern.
Check your bias, IBM!
Many companies today claim that they can reduce or eliminate bias. However, when anybody tells you that adding more computers, more technology, more AI and ML to mitigate bias will solve the problem, they are wrong. Computers just amplify the bias for us.
The misery is over
There are times when the end of a technology fills you with nostalgia and brings up good memories of the past. I remember when the time came for Nokia, Blackberry and Novell - companies which produced solid products and were on the forefront of innovation. Then you have products, which when you hear that they've been discontinued, sunset and done, your only thought is 'finally'. One of these products that is finally retiring is Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE). On June 15, 2022, the browser was officially done.