Social Wizz Rapid Fire Round with Guest Mike Walsh

Artist: Praz Hari@prazhari

Socialwizz.com

Q1) What impact do you think the next billionth to join the internet economy will have on the internet as a whole given their a large majority will come from a rural background?

A1) The future of the Web is at a curious juncture. When we think about the next generation of mobile devices, new social platforms, and digital business models its natural to look to Silicon Valley and companies like Apple and Facebook. But the reality is that already the vast majority of the world's connected

population are from emerging markets - who are not only developing their own culturally coded technologies, but critically, evolving entire new forms

of online behaviour. If you look closely, the seeds of change are already present in our current wave of innovation.

Social networking had its origins in South Korea, its virtual merchandise and social gaming business models were refined in markets like China, much of the underlying programming language for multiplayer games came from Brazil, and perhaps the most astute VCs in the new digital economy are arising in places like Russia.

Q2) With over 50 tablet devices due for release globally in 2011, what do you see as the key change/shift in the way we consume information/entertainment?

A2) Its seductive to be dazzled by devices and lured into thinking they will dramatically change our

consumption habits. The truth is - we are not just seeing the growth of tablets, but the proliferation of screens in general. The media industry currently has an artificial business model delineation between various types of screens (mobile, TV, PC, tablet) - but that kind of arbitrage cannot last.

Eventually all our content will be streamed from the Cloud and its resolution will scale depending on where we are and what we are doing. That's the real behavioural game changer.

Q3) What do you see as the future of traditional media outlets like TV, Newspapers and Magazines? Do you see a integrated solution with emerging digital technologies, or do you see that only as a short-term solution until we head towards a complete digital convergence?

A3) The future of all media, regardless of format is data. At the moment traditional media companies struggle with the new business model because they still think they are in the real estate business. They are trying to replicate the physical scarcity model that understand from the world of newspaper column inches and broadcast airtime. But that simply doesn't translate properly to the Web.

Inventory on the web scales to popularity. The truly valuable resource on the Web is audience attention, and the only way to access that is gathering deeper insights into what makes consumers tick.

Q4) How do you feel is the best way to inspire industries like the Education System who still train students to operate under the factory model?

A4) At some point we are going to need to reboot the entire idea of learning. What is the point of memorising facts when Google has all the answers. In fact the real challenge for people today is not answers, but framing the right questions. And then layering on filters to be able to discern fact from fiction, truth from

marketing, artifice from authenticity. That is a much more subtle skill for the children of tomorrow to grasp. And perhaps, even harder for their teachers.

Q5) In such a rapid/fast changing world, HOW do you think the best way is for the average person to keep completely up-to-date with the rapid change?

A5) Master the ability to scan the topography of information and events at an inch deep, but have the skill to dive deep when you need to.

Contact Mike: michael@walsh.net

Blog: http://blog.mike-walsh.com/

Book: http://www.futuretainment.com/