Yi-Tan Tech 266 – That iPad –

OK, I’ll admit my bias up front: if Apple had called the iPad the iTouch Max(i), I would have called it a home run. They’re going to sell gobs of them, and eBooks and Netbooks better watch out. But for me they ruined the tablet category, or at least gave Android and ChromeOS developers a wide open door to deliver something more interesting than the iPhone interface on a big screen.

Then I talked with our perennial guest and perspicaceous friend Al Chang, whose nuanced analysis of why the iPad is just the right move for Apple will be the starting point of our discussion.

With Al, let’s discuss:

• What choices did Apple make in delivering the iPad and why were they the right choices?
• Who will buy one of these? What’s the compelling buying proposition?
• Where might the tablet category go?

Here’s the podcast: Yi-Tan Tech 266 – That iPad –

You can also download the podcast here.

Yi-Tan Call 265 – Encore Careers –

Careers certainly aren’t what they used to be. Civic Ventures has been working to support people in a particular career transition: from the end of your “normal” career at age 55-65 into a “capstone” job that will likely make a social contribution.

To do this, Civic Ventures launched Encore Careers, a site that now features a Purpose Prize, fellowships and useful info, and that will soon have a suite of encore career services, from financial advice and coaching to resumes, job listings and support groups.

With David Bank, let’s discuss:

• What do people go through in this transition? Where do they look?
• Who is showing up? What clients? What related organizations?
• Where are the biggest opportunities?

Here’s the podcast: Yi-Tan Call 265 – Encore Careers –

You can also download the podcast here.

Yi-Tan Tech Community Call 265 – Encore Careers –

Yi-Tan Call 264: Open Manufacturing

Yi-Tan call on Open Manufacturing.

Here’s the podcast: Yi-Tan Call 264 – Open Manufacturing

If you prefer you can  download the podcast.

Yi-Tan Call 263: Open Government

Over four years of Yi-Tan and we’ve hardly touched open government. Time to remedy that.

Let’s start in Vancouver, where David Eaves has been working with the government for years to create open data sources, foster citizen engagement and more.

With David, let’s discuss:

• What are the three laws of open government data? Who lives by them now?
• How does openness change governance?
• What traits seem to indicate a place is ripe for an openness revolution?

Here’s the podcast: Yi-Tan Call 263 – Open Government

Yi-Tan Call 262: CES 2010

From tablets (or rumored tablets) and e-readers (some bendable) to 3D theater, in-car systems and smartphones, there was plenty showing up. At the same time, Google announced its Nexus One phone, possibly the grooviest Android phone on offer now.

None of which killed off curiosity about Apple’s impending tablet announcement.

Together, let’s discuss:

• What were the big attention getters this year? what trends jumped out?
• Will you buy a tablet? which one and why (or why not)?
• Are the various sectors converging (apps in your Ford) or not (3D TV)

Here’s the podcast:  Yi-Tan Call 262 – CES 2010

Yi-Tan Call 261: Personal Kanban

Let’s get moving on the new decade! Time’s a-wastin’.

Many people use the New Year to set personal resolutions. A common one is getting more things done. (Remember our May 2008 GTD call with David Allen?)

Behold Personal Kanban, a way of seeing your work’s shape, cadence and flow, developed by longtime friend Jim Benson. Inspired by kanban/lean/agile methods, PK is tuned to personal productivity (there’s a team version we’ll tackle later).

To get the most from this call, open Jim’s SlideShare presentation. With Jim, let’s discuss:

• What has publishing the PK site shown you? What’s still missing?
• Where is the emerging PK community taking the concept?
• What is the role of work in life? What does clarity give us?
• Where do you think PK might go? What would you like to see happen?

Here’s the podcast: Yi-Tan Call 261: Personal Kanban

Yi-Tan Call 260: Game Apps or Consoles?

When we think of computer games we think of consoles (Nintendo, Xbox, PlayStation) and PC games, but it turns out that smartphone game apps are catching up fast.

With Dan Ernst from Hudson Square Research, let’s discuss:

• What are the top game trends these days? who’s winning the games game?
• How is the games market changing? is this a big shift?
• Where are the most interesting advances coming from?

Here’s the podcast: Yi-Tan Call 260: Game Apps or Consoles?

Yi-Tan Call 259: Acumen Fund

After decades of government aid programs, philanthropy, massive development projects and more, poverty and hunger are still rampant worldwide; water, sanitation and health are all scarce.

The Acumen Fund is one of the bright stars of a new model that blends venture capital with a longer-term approach to returns: so-called “patient capital.” Here’s a recent video of theirs.

With Sasha Dichter, Acumen’s director of business development, let’s discuss:

• What returns do philanthropic investors expect? others?
• How does patient capital foster innovative approaches?
• What’s the “best available charitable option” anyhow?
• What will it take to end poverty in our lifetimes?

Here’s the podcast: Yi-Tan Call 259: Acumen Fund

Yi-Tan Call 258: Participatory Medicine

What happens when people come together to help each other get well? We’ve heard remarkable stories from PatientsLikeMe, CureTogether and SugarStats, where people share medical data so personal that HIPAA would flippa.

People are coming together to run, lose weight, kick smoking and more. This seems like the tip of the iceberg. Ths nascent field already has a journal, the Journal of Participatory Medicine. Some of its founders and advisors will be our guests for this call.

With Esther Dyson, Alexandra Carmichael, Jen McCabe, Susannah Fox and Adam Bosworth, let’s discuss:

• What is participatory medicine? What’s new about it?
• How are medical institutions interacting with the crowdsourced sites?
• What building blocks are still missing to help this system thrive?

Here’s the podcast: Yi-Tan Call 258: Participatory Medicine

Yi-Tan Tech Community Call 257 – Chief Culture Officer -

Just over year ago, Grant McCracken led us into a discussion about the implications of change.

Since then, he’s written a book proposing a new CXO position — Chief Culture Officer — to help organizations thrive through these changes. You can join the online community he’s started for the book here.

With Grant, let’s discuss:

• What does culture mean in this context?
• What are the CCO’s duties?
• How does one anticipate cultural trends?
• What is a “living, breathing organization”?
• How can a CCO change an organization? With what tools?

Yi-Tan Tech Community Call 257 – Chief Culture Officer -