2011: the end of predictions and predictators! 2012: Power to the people!
Have you also noticed that 2011 has seen a drastic reduction in the numbers of predictions?
When this time of year is usually full of "Top 10 things that will happen next year in mobile" ... In 2011 pre-dictators (those doing predictions) seem to have disappeared or seem to be more quiet than usual!
What should we read in this?
Optimistic view
2011 has seen mobile finally booming (despite a slow economy) and people usually predicting at this time of the year are too busy doing! (or resting from a long hard year)
Pessimistic view
2012 looks so muddy that most people do not want to venture in what could be a very very dangerous territory
Even more pessimistic view
The major mobile devices and mobile platforms (Android and Apple) have reached a stage of maturity where the rhythm of innovation inside and outside the platform is slowing down. There is no exciting future for 2012 just consolidation over existing technologies.
Realistic view
This is the end of pre-dictators, power to the people and to those who make things happen on the ground! Ideas are cheap, actions are difficult!
Intellectual view
A majority of predictions are statements that people working on long term projects know will become true! Therefore they constitute more a breach of confidentiality, a loss of competitiveness and cheap PR than real futuristic visions.
SO WHAT? NO PREDICTIONS THIS YEAR?
Taking all these into accounts and keeping true to the spirit of 2011 I will move away from "predictions" and switch to "things that I believe will happen in mobile 2012 around that will shape my business and activities shared for no other intent than creating discussions, reflections and feedback!" (I know that predictions was much shorter but that is the cost of choosing an un-ambiguated definition)!
HANDS ON!!
Menage a trois
The year of the couples are gone we now need more than 2 talents around the tables to create a kick ass product! The designer, the developer and the back-end developer!
Actions: This strictly refers to my professional life! Bring new communities together and bring new talents to WIP (interested? give me a buzz)
Verticals
Mobile cannot leave in a bubble anymore it's time to mobilize every businesses on this planet... Notice the choice of verticals over enterprise, as the mobile enterprise vision is still lagging.
Actions: WIP will be at London Book Fair and at Midem this year to get more content providers to think mobile and more mobile developers to find content deals!
Artificial Intelligence
Siri was just a start! AI will be a lot more common in 2012! If "search" is going to be replaced by "do", AI will be your "do engine"!
Actions: Get a brain extension (or several)... Seriously, anyone interested in an AI and mobile conference?
Local and global (Yes it's a bit trite)
A local network of tech companies is essential to your success! A Global market vision is key to your growth
Actions: Become ubiquitous / Accelerate my CO2 emission by a factor of 2 by traveling even more (event line-up Q1: Vegas, Michigan, Israel, Cannes, Frankfurt, Barcelona, Paris) / Find WIP collaborators in new locations! (interested? give me a buzz)
More irrelevant stats
With mobile application being so hot every one with a bit of data is a PR King! As a consequence we have more irrelevant stats than ever... (see twitter stream for examples)
Actions: Relentlessly fight disinformation by figures with interpretations and exchange!
2012 London Olympics
Yes they will happen! There might even be a working public transportation system exclusively for the duration of the Olympics and for people who can afford it! Sunny spells a rare occurence.
Actions: Invite everyone visiting London for the Olympics to pass by our office to say Hi or find protection from the rain. And go see the handball game I have a ticket for!