“Infinite Possibility” by Joe Pine and Kim Korn is a must read if you are interested in innovation. Joe (I met Joe in Amsterdam and we are on first name basis) is the author of the experience economy and this book is a natural extension. The experience economy was written in 1999 and was then way ahead of its time. With the tsunami of digital, it needed another book on how to extend the experience economy and embrace the digital frontiers.
A universe for innovation
Yes, this book is about “to boldly go where no man has gone before” or to quote Buzz Lightyear; “to infinity and beyond!” This is about creativity, innovation and product development along some very interesting development lines. The classic core development lines are space, time, matter. Infinite possibility adds non-time, non-space and non-matter and thus creating a new universe for innovation. What “spaces” do you get if you start combining these development lines:
- reality
- augmented reality
- physical virtuality
- mirrored virtuality
- warped reality
- alternate reality
- augmented virtuality
- virtuality
Possibilities
Once you have done that, the new world is full of possibilities. Which brings you into the world of Wii, Guitar Hero, Deus Ex, cyberpunk, Second Life, 3D printing, avatars, Layar, Walt Disney, LEGO, Organovo, personal fabrication, World Lense and Tom-Tom. And this is just the beginning! As a science fiction freak, you can understand that I am very taken by the book and not that surprised by what is now possible.
Relevant for business?
Is this is relevant to business? Because this does sound like science fiction. You bet! You only need to read “Break from the pack” by Harari to understand how commoditisation and technology are a constant threat to your company. This is a way to create an edge. To break free.
What technology wants
Are you still in doubt? I always like to refer to “What technology wants”; The technetium is the technology ecosystem that surrounds us. The technetium contains 170 quadrillion (a quadrillion is one thousand million million) chips. The number of neurons in your brain is similar to the number of transistors in the global network. The number of file links is similar to the number of synapse links in your brain. The planetary electronic membrane surrounding the worlds is comparable to the complexity of the human brain.
Attribute listing
There is no escaping technology and its impact on your business. This book gives you the toolset to apply attribute listing (chopping up your business, product or service in the smallest parts possible and find alternatives) in a completely new way and fundamentally change your business model in a blue ocean of infinite possibilities.
If you don’t, your competitor will.
