I watched the whole thing there
Unfold upon my TV screen
“A new world order is on its way”
Well pass the popcorn please
-Thomas William Cochrane”
Being a Canadian I hold a soft spot in my heart for my fellow Canadians who have managed to breakout in the music scene. One such artist is Tom Cochrane whose hits “Life is a Highway” and “No Regrets” propelled him to fame both within Canada and across the border all on a single album “Mad Mad World” (and yes, we bought albums back then).
Reminiscing over the weekend I couldn’t help but think of how much change has occurred and how “mad” our world has become over the last decade –
Think about it, ONLY 10 years ago –
– We were still buying music (albums) albeit digitally through the apple store – streaming services didn’t exist
– We booked hotels by calling their 1-800 numbers and peruses rentals in the paper or on Craigslist
– GPS was constrained to proprietary devices – it wasn’t available on phones
– We still hailed taxis with our thumb and a good whistle – Uber didn’t exist
– We shared files via email and USB sticks – Dropbox was in its infancy
– Nobody knew what a “selfie” was – Instagram was just getting started
– A cool, electric car was an oxymoron – Tesla was just getting started
Now that we are 14 months away from ringing in a new decade all signs point to accelerating innovation.
During a recent Hitachi NEXT event in San Diego I heard the CEO and President of #Hitachi Ltd., Toshiaki Higashihara talk to the “Yin” and “Yang” that come with technological innovation –
Specifically, he spoke to the “Light” and the “Shadow” that accompanies IT evolution –
The “Light” are the benefits to both corporations and society;
– Better healthcare
– Increased Convenience
– Increased Productivity
– Increased Safety
– Better Quality of Service
– Lower costs
The “Shadow” refers to the malicious threats that accompany the shift to the digital age –
– Personal and Corporate Security Exposure
– Potential for large scale Cyber- Attacks
– Potential for damaging Data Breaches
We are definitely on the cusp of one of the most exciting decades in the history of mankind –
With that, I applaud Hitachi Ltd., for taking a refreshing approach to this
– Combining their 100+ years of Operational Technology expertise in Transportation, Energy, Healthcare and Water with their 50+ years of Information Technology expertise to transform all industries into an “as-a-service” industry – Take for instance their “Train-as-a-service”
– Focusing their highest corporate mandate on a “Double Bottom Line” with a commitment to invest in driving Innovation that not only benefits their bottom-line but society as a whole – Take for instance their Proton Therapy System allowing for more affordable and less evasive cancer treatment.
We are seeing signs from other Technology leaders like Pat Gelsinger from #VMware and Satya Nadella from #Microsoft also pledging to using their powers for good and a commitment to driving societal benefit as an equal measure in line with Technology Innovation.
No doubt that the pace of change is increasing and we will continue to live in a “mad mad world” but I am excited about what the future holds.
Disclosure – I am currently the SVP & CTO Global Field and Industry for #HitachiVantara
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