Monthly Archives: August 2010

Thinking & Culture

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A study led by Takahiko Masuda at the University of Alberta (Canada) has found that when Westerners look at an image they tend to isolate a central subject whereas East Asians tend toward seeing the image in its contextual entirety. For instance, when asked to look at a picture of an individual and judge his or her mood, a group of Japanese took into account the facial expressions of the background group whereas Western volunteers didn’t consider the expressions of the people in the background. Nobody to my knowledge has run this test using an fMRI scanner but it could be interesting to try it. Again, this all links back to different types of thinking and, in particular, how different individuals and cultures (and perhaps even institutions) acquire, process and retain certain kinds of knowledge.

Culture & Thinking

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A study led by Takahiko Masuda at the University of Alberta (Canada) has found that when Westerners look at an image they tend to isolate a central subject whereas East Asians tend toward seeing the image in its contextual entirety. For instance, when asked to look at a picture of an individual and judge his or her mood, a group of Japanese took into account the facial expressions of the background group whereas Western volunteers didn’t consider the expressions of the people in the background. Nobody to my knowledge has run this test using an fMRI scanner but it could be interesting to try it. Again, this all links back to different types of thinking and, in particular, how different individuals and cultures (and perhaps even institutions) acquire, process and retain certain kinds of knowledge.

The Myth of Multitasking

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If you doubt the negative side of multi-tasking consider one very simple statistic. In the US, 2,600 people die and 330,000 are injured every year because they are doing two things at once. You might believe that you can drive and think at the same time and indeed you can. To drive a car requires several layers of thinking to happen simultaneously. But when you add another conscious activity like talking on a phone or trying to read a map, it appears that the consequences can be fatal.

Get rid of 1p coins

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I’m starting to have ideas in my sleep. One from last night – why not round up all retail transactions in the UK to the nearest 5p and donate the 1p, 2p etc to charity? It would raise millions and get rid of those stupid coins that are worth next to nothing.

Nice quote

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Spotted this morning in a newspaper…

“Young men are fitter to invent than to judge, fitter for execution than for counsel; and fitter for new projects than settled business.” – Francis Bacon, Youth and Age.

The full quote is actually…

Young men are fitter to invent, than to judge; fitter for execution than for counsel; and fitter for new projects than for settled business; Young men, in the conduct and manage of actions, embrace more than they can hold; stir more than they can quiet; fly to the end, without consideration of the means and degrees; pursue some few principles which they have chanced upon absurdly; care not to innovate, which draws unknown inconveniences; use extreme remedies at first; and that, which doubleth all errors, will not acknowledge or retract them, like an unruly horse, that will neither stop nor turn. Men of age object too much, consult too long, adventure too little, repent too soon, and seldom drive business home to the full period, but content themselves with a mediocrity of success.

McDonald’s, Colchester – Why I’m not loving It

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How about this for a new way to build customer loyalty – not.  I was in Essex a month or so ago and needed to check my email, so I went into McDonald’s, next to Leisure World in Colchester, to use their excellent free wi-fi service. I got a coffee, then another one.  I have no idea how long I was there, I didn’t think it was important. Then I got into my car, which I had parked in their carpark, and drove off.

So imagine my shock when, yesterday, I got a bill from somone or something called MET Parking Services for fifty quid ($100) for staying too long! Yes, that’s right, there is a limit on how long you can stay there.  Silly me, I thought they might like my business. Turns out to be the most expensive cup (or cups) of coffee in history.

Apparently there are signs telling you this but I didn’t see them. Probably because I wasn’t looking for them. I didn’t get a ticket either. It’s all automated, of course. Talk about a fast buck. Next time I’ll use the drive-thru – at KFC.

2011 Trends

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I’ve starting thinking about my list of 10 Trends for 11. So far I’ve got…

Volatility

Rare Earth minerals

Stop-Go economics

Uncertainty

Decoupling (again…maybe)

Early days and will probably change them but they are a start.

Idea of the month

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What to do with thousands on unused red telephone boxes? One idea is to remove the coin-operated telephones and printed phone directories and put library books inside instead. A kind of mini-mobile library if you like. The idea obviously depends on trust (you take one and put one back) and is open to vandalism, but the cost of trying is so low why not give it a go?