Explaining digital disruption to three-year-olds
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Explaining digital disruption to three-year-olds

As an analyst, I told stories about complex technology, but I learned to tell them simply. When you’re trying to get your point across, that’s essential. One night in 1999 I was giving my three-year-old a bath. My kid was bright, good with language, and, like Dad, a bit of a smartass. And like many three-year-olds…

Improving the customer experience of the surgery waiting room

Improving the customer experience of the surgery waiting room

My son, who is 19, had surgery two days ago at Emerson Hospital in Concord, Massachusetts. I was impressed with the ways in which Emerson improved the experience of waiting for a surgical patient. I also have a few suggestions. The surgery was successful and my son is recovering nicely. Everybody is fine. The surgical’s team’s number…

Revenge, integrity, and my tiny role in the downfall of Henry Yuen
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Revenge, integrity, and my tiny role in the downfall of Henry Yuen

In the year 2000, when I was the top technology analyst in the television industry, I began to see the outlines of the transformation of television. TiVo had delivered a big shock to the television schedule. Video on-demand was another tremor. I could see the whole edifice shaking. I wrote a piece called “The End Of TV (As We…

5 bullshit things about television and the reasons behind them
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5 bullshit things about television and the reasons behind them

I studied the television industry for more than a decade. It doesn’t work the way you think it does. Since TV is a highly visible but stodgy industry ripe for disruption, it’s a great topic for #5BullshitThings, highlighting industries that work in incomprehensible ways and why they do. I’ll explain your bloated cable bill, why TV programs…