How do you compete in a world that is being transformed by Asia, Automation, and Abundance, in which “we are moving from an economy and society built on the logical, linear, computerlike capabilities of the Information Age to an economy and a society built on the inventive, empathetic, big-picture capabilities of what’s rising in its place, the Conceptual Age”?
This is the question that Daniel Pink tries to address in his book “A Whole New Mind”, and his answer is that we need to develop a “different form of thinking and a new approach to life” that takes advantage of our “high concept” and “high touch” right brain qualities of “inventiveness, empathy, joyfulness, and meaning.
Talk about an eclectic mix of icons and messages: Mao meets Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf. An ironic commentary on cultural convergence? Or simply thrown together?
And as for the “Better travel than dead” slogan on this mock heroic poster for the curiously named Pass By Cafe, I guess you can at least say that it grabs your attention – though whether you would want to stop and eat there is another matter.
“Transformative change happens when industries democratize, when they’re ripped from the sole domain of companies, governments, and other institutions and handed over to regular folks. The Internet democratized publishing, broadcasting, and communications, and the consequence was a massive increase in the range of both participation and participants in everything digital – the long tail of bits.
Now the same is happening to manufacturing – the long tail of things”
Walking around Beijing Hutong Country I came across a number of small shops showing the emergence of interesting new businesses being developed by the country’s growing army of native and foreign entrepreneurs.
One good example in the area was the NLGX design store, which claims to create “original-designed apparel inspired by the Beijing’s development into a multicultural melting pot of artists, entrepreneurs, travellers, and global-minded individuals”.
This is over 700 years old and is the only street in Beijing with four decorative archways. It’s a pleasant enough to stroll around but is perhaps a little too gentrified and doesn’t quite have the same atmosphere as some other Beijing Hutong.
Here’s a short video pulling together some of the photos I took of Beijing Hutong Country.
I really like the eclectic mix of ancient and modern in the area, and how traditional IP is being used by entrepreneurs to create interesting new businesses. More on this over the weekend.
We are pleased to announce our first motherboard based on our recently-launched Mobile-ITX form factor. Measuring just 6cm x 6cm, the VIA EPIA-T700 is a uniquely compact computer-on-module that combines the 1GHz VIA Eden ULV processor with the VX820 MPSP to provide a flexible, low power platform for a wide range of miniature embedded system designs.
For more information about the VIA EPIA-T700, please see the press release here.
As I mentioned in a previous entry, this is a pleasant place to stroll around without being particularly spectacular. Make sure you go when the sky is clear so you can enjoy the great views of Beijing from Coal Hill.
