DP24012 Regional Newspapers V01 191024

 With the steady decline in Regional Newspapers, alongside their National counterparts, I have been interested to see what will replace them in the marketplace. There is definitely a demand for local news with social media being too unstructured and unmoderated to satisfy this need. The production of more structured content delivered in an Digital Format (eg PDF) or Website or Printed Paper incur writing and production costs. Unless financed on a fully volunteer or donation basis advertising revenue is needed to balance the books since in the marketplace customers will neither pay or subscribe for such a local news service.

The Regional Newspaper sector has moved towards the low or poor content advertisement loaded “freebie” concept. These are not succeeding because analysis has shown that the pages containing content rather than advertising have to exceed at least 20% of the publication to retain any sort of reader engagement. With the reader interest known to increase as the content increases and the advertising reduces. So it is balance between what gets printed on the page or displayed on the screen between content and advertising. Content retains readership whilst advertising generates revenue and inevitably survival.

So it was whilst I was walking around Pershore, Worcestershire high street that I  picked up yesterday a printed copy of the “Pershore Times” (October 2024). Full colour printed on high quality white paper with a large size of 22.5 cm (Width) and 32.0 cm (Depth) this was an impressive free monthly Newspaper. What was most impressive was the amount of interesting written content provided by a number of different enthusiastic writers.

I thought this article below by Emily Papirnik was worthy of inclusion to illustrate the point I am making.

 

In todays world many of us find ourselves worrying about how others perceive us. This constant pressure to fit in with peers, communities and environments can push us to change aspects of our identity. In fact, some may find that they alter themselves so much in an attempt to belong that they lose sight of who they truly are.

Adapting to our environment.

This phenomenon is particularly common in personal and professional environments. Some people shift their personality or behaviour to manage work situations with more ease or efficiency, becoming someone else just to survive in a particular role. At home, it is not uncommon for individuals to prioritise others’ needs over their own, playing the caretaker or peacemaker to ensure harmony. While these adaptations may serve short-term goals, they can lead to a deeper sense of disconnection from our true selves over time.

 

The chameleon effect.

We all do it – change our behavior, the way we present ourselves, or even our physical appearance to blend in. This can reach a point where the question arises: ‘Who am I really?’ Many of us encounter this realisation when a significant life transition occurs. It could be a young adult leaving school or a parent experiencing an empty nest after their children move out. During these shifts, individuals may feel lost, struggling to remember what they actually enjoy, or how they prefer to spend their time. In these moments it’s common for people to revert to familiar past activities, not because they genuinely enjoy them, but because they were once shared with someone else.

 

A scary yet liberating moment.

 

Such realisations can be scary. It’s the moment you acknowledge that you have neglected your own needs, wants and even passions. You may find yourself asking ‘What do I enjoy doing? – especially when no one else’s preferences or needs are involved. It’s not just a frightening moment – it’s a freeing one.

This time of self-discovery offers an opportunity to explore new avenues of joy and curiosity, unencumbered by outside expectations. The important question then becomes: ‘What fives you joy?’

 

Rediscovering Joy

This was the question I posed to one of my clients recently. At first, they had no answer. They began reflecting on activities from their past but quickly realised they didn’t truly enjoy many of those things. This discovery marked the beginning of an exciting journey for them, a process of investigation and anticipation, looking forward to new possibilities. Rather than feeling sad about the time lost, this is a moment to be curious. What will you uncover when you look within? Ask others what they enjoy, experiment with new hobbies or pastimes and allow yourself the freedom to grow into your own happiness. Rediscover what makes you you, and start living for yourself once again.

 

There were a number of other articles equalling this level of quality writing.

So significantly behind this publication was a 4^th Generation Local Printer who had obviously embraced both technology and authorship. It works because it is truly “local” in content with them publishing three more very specifically local newspapers. Being monthly it allows for better time management and organisation in the assembly of good content. It looks like they have retained regular local writers to generate this content for free or by allowing them to delicately advertise their product or service in the article itself or using the article footnote. Looking at the file naming it looks like they are lithographically printed rather than the more expensive digital printing. It is also built upon consistently paid up regular local business advertising revenue. It appears that a lot of the distribution is from stands sited in the local retailers. The clever use of “reasons to keep” articles from the likes of churches, history societies, local interest groups etc guarantee it has a shelf life rather than immediately going in the bin.

This is an exceedingly well thought through local business owned Regional Newspaper which looks to have on the face of it a long term future.

Now the big question is how can something as effective as this be implemented right across the country and not just in a few Worcestershire Market Towns and Villages.

Use this link to go to the Pershore Times website where you can access this months Newspaper and view previous archived copies. Even the design of the website is a masterpiece in simplicity.

http://www.pershoretimes.com

 

Details in the photo of the Publishing Company. Hughes & Company and the genius Proprietor and Editor Alan Hughes.

DP24011 Digitised Real Book Postings on LinkedIn V01 250824

Click this link immediately to see which LinkedIn Posts have free books attached to them.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FYQQCmmJWA1YV8gW3rWrDqI0JD_wh1kr/view?usp=sharing

Not surprisingly readers of my LinkedIn site often ask where are the free books I keep blogging about. Those I have saved from landfill. Well. This table below lists the Post Date you can find them against if you scroll down the LinkedIn “Infinite Scroll”. Amongst them you will also find some of the books published by DMB Publishing which you have to purchase from Amazon with the book link embedded in the post. 

If you want to access the books directly from Google Blogspot you can use the relevant Blogspot Post Reference (eg DG24015) shown in the table below in the search box which is capital sensitive. But first you will need to go to the relevant Google Blogsite shown below based on the first two letters of the reference.

These sites have other blogs on them not linked to LinkedIn so the contents may be of interest to you or not. Their content loosely following the blog name. So “artist” (DA), “geography” (DG) , “history“ (DY) and “publishing” (DP) . There are a further 10 Blogsites covering different subject areas but we will not go there today !!!!

 

For DA go to

adigitalartist.blogspot.com

For DG go to

adigitalgeography.blogspot.com

For DP go to

dmbpublishing.blogspot.com

For DY go to

adigitalhistory.blogspot.com

 

I have to just remind everybody that due to the current “Copyright Laws” doing this remains a delicate activity where I am taking as much care as I can to avoid problems. Never offering for “free” anything still being sold “as new” in the book marketplace. If I believe it is still for sale I will only display some sample pages in line with Amazon’s sampling policy. Although having recently had a strong objection raised I had to quickly remove the content from the internet. So I am being more careful than ever although if Publishers and Authors will not respond to my emails it is very difficult to decide what to do other than include a note offering to remove immediately if an objection is raised. Maybe it has just got to go to landfill with it being lost forever rather than taking the risk of breaking the Copyright Laws. Read my 240824-02 LinkedIn Post on this subject for more background to this problem which is affecting everybody trying to save books from destruction by creating digital copies. This includes the likes of Google who are fighting constant legal battles.   

Enjoy. Banno

  

DP24010 Social Media Publishing Experimentation V01 240824

 Use this link immediately to see all my LinkedIn Posts for August 2024. 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nGueCmJHTsqMR-Y2uSBLwSf-3Q7WlN2n/view?usp=sharing

I have just spent a very active August 2024 experimenting at publishing posted content through predominantly LinkedIn with some transferred over to Facebook. The subject matter has been varied with it running to 65 individual posts. For each post I have used my standard post unique identifier of “230824-01” with categorisation based upon a 2 tier format of “Major Subject - Minor Subject”. Tagging has been far less structured and I have yet to get my head around how it grows the readership.

The issue of readers focusing predominantly on the latest posts, often referred to as “recency bias,” reflects a broader challenge in the digital information age. This problem can be described in several ways:

1. Recency Over Depth:

        •       Shallow Consumption: Readers may prioritize new content over older, potentially more insightful or in-depth material. This leads to a superficial understanding of topics, as readers might only engage with what’s trending rather than what’s thoroughly researched.

2. Information Overload:

        •       Fleeting Attention: The constant stream of new posts can overwhelm readers, making it difficult for them to focus on or even notice older, valuable content. This contributes to shorter attention spans and a preference for quick, easily digestible information.

3. Echo Chambers:

        •       Narrow Perspectives: When readers consistently consume only the latest content, which often reflects current trends or popular opinions, they may miss out on diverse viewpoints or historical context. This can reinforce existing biases and limit critical thinking.

4. Lost Knowledge:

 

        •       Neglect of Timeless Content: High-quality content that remains relevant over time may be overlooked simply because it’s not recent. Important ideas, lessons, and discussions from the past can become buried under the constant flow of new information, leading to a loss of collective knowledge.

5. Pressure on Content Creators:

        •       Chasing Virality: Content creators may feel pressured to produce frequent, attention-grabbing posts to stay relevant, often at the expense of quality. This can lead to a focus on quantity over quality, as creators cater to algorithms and the demand for new content rather than investing time in producing thoughtful, enduring work.

6. Instant Gratification Culture:

        •       Impatience with Long-Form Content: The preference for the latest posts can discourage readers from engaging with long-form content that requires time and effort to digest. This reinforces a culture of instant gratification, where quick updates are valued more than deep, reflective reading.

Summary:

The problem of readers gravitating only towards the latest posts is a multifaceted issue rooted in the dynamics of digital media consumption. It reflects a broader societal trend towards immediacy and can lead to the neglect of valuable, enduring content. Addressing this issue may involve encouraging more mindful consumption of information, promoting diverse content engagement, and recognizing the value of timeless knowledge in a fast-paced world.

This has resulted in my decision here to publish this Table of Posts made in August 2024 is an attempt to get readers to see at a higher level what has been posted so they can look back over to see if they have missed anything that may interest them. Whilst the Social Media developers do not want to complicate their posting technologies it is obvious if they want to encourage more than just fleeting attention and a more considered reading activity they are going to have to build in some more structured labelling of content and feedback based upon this labelling. They are going down the route of just using AI technology to achieve these objectives. Unfortunately this can lead to an increasing narrowing of the scope whereas the so call serendipity moments we as humans most enjoy get lost.  

 

 

 

Significantly I have continued to experiment with linking back from LinkedIn to Blogspot to Google Drive to share books destined for landfill. Breaking the Copyright Laws remains a major concern so many books that I know are headed for landfill I will not share due to concerns over copyright. Where I have doubts I am extra cautious and if I do go ahead  add a isclaimer and agree to immediate removal if a copyright owner objects. This has happened on one occasion so far. Unfortunately, publishers are increasingly not responding to my requests for approval or providing me with  contact details of their author or more often these days the heirs to the author’s intellectual properties be they books or images.

This article below describes the problem of copyright law leading to the permanent loss of many books from society. This loss is happening at a huge rate with literally tons of books by weight being destroyed daily with no Government initiatives in place to avoid this loss. It is a historical catastrophe due to the digital revolution now taking place with most books being removed from our society with by 2030 very few books apart from paperback fiction existing. Even in charity shops the trend is to only resell fiction paperbacks with all other non- fiction books going to landfill. This is being based upon current customer demand even in the second hand cheap marketplace.

This is an interesting write up on the copyright issue.

Copyright Laws are intended to protect the intellectual property rights of authors and creators, ensuring that they receive recognition and compensation for their work. However, these laws can sometimes have the unintended consequence of restricting access to certain books, especially when those books are out of print or no longer commercially viable.

Key Issues Leading to Potential Loss of Books:

        1.      Orphan Works:

        •       Orphan works are books whose copyright holders cannot be located or identified. Because no one can give permission to reproduce or distribute these works, they often remain inaccessible, potentially leading to their loss.

        2.      Out-of-Print Books:

        •       When books go out of print, they are often no longer available for purchase, yet they remain under copyright protection. This limits their distribution and can lead to them being forgotten or even destroyed when physical copies deteriorate or are discarded.

        3.      Extended Copyright Terms:

        •       The extension of copyright terms (often lasting the lifetime of the author plus 70 years or more) means that books remain under copyright for a very long time, during which they cannot legally be reproduced or shared without permission. This long period of protection can hinder access to older works that are no longer commercially viable but still culturally or educationally important.

        4.      Libraries and Archives:

        •       Libraries and archives may face restrictions when digitizing and sharing older works that are still under copyright, even if those works are not available elsewhere. This can lead to a situation where books are effectively “lost” because they cannot be legally preserved or shared in digital form.

        5.      Destruction of Unsold Books:

        •       Publishers sometimes destroy unsold books to save on storage costs, especially if the books are not generating revenue. Copyright laws can prevent these books from being redistributed or archived, leading to their permanent loss.

Potential Solutions:

        1.      Fair Use and Educational Exceptions:

        •       Expanding fair use provisions and educational exceptions could allow for the preservation and sharing of books that are no longer commercially available but still hold cultural or educational value.

        2.      Orphan Works Legislation:

        •       Implementing legislation that allows for the use of orphan works under certain conditions could help prevent these works from being lost to time.

        3.      Digitization Initiatives:

        •       Efforts like the Internet Archive or Google’s book digitisation project aim to preserve books by digitizing them. However, these initiatives often face legal challenges due to copyright restrictions.

        4.      Revisiting Copyright Duration:

        •       Some advocates argue for a shorter copyright duration, especially for works that are no longer commercially exploited, to allow for earlier entry into the public domain where they can be freely accessed and preserved.

        5.      Controlled Digital Lending (CDL):

        •       CDL is a practice where libraries lend out digital copies of physical books they own, with the idea that they lend one copy for each physical book they have. This method is still legally contested but offers a potential solution for accessing out-of-print books.

Conclusion:

While copyright laws are essential for protecting creators, they can also lead to the loss of books that might otherwise be preserved and shared. Balancing the protection of authors’ rights with the need for cultural preservation and access to knowledge is a complex issue that continues to evolve as society grapples with the implications of long-term copyright protection.

 

 

DP24009 Podcasts and Voice Controlled AI. V01 150824

In terms of an innovation I never predicted waking up in the middle of the night and asking Alexa on my Amazon Echo Dot to play me a podcast whilst she informs me I have an Amazon order due to be delivered today. Being a camera enthusiast I could see videography coming down the futures track. As far back as the 1970’s filming my children on Super 8mm film, without sound, I could envisage the magnetic film replacement coming in the form of the analogue VHS and don’t forget Betamax formats with sound.  Quickly followed by Digital Video of the 1980’s seamlessly adding sound leading to DVD’s and Blu-ray then on to Streaming Media from the internet leading onto the 4k Ultra High Definition cameras of today used in live internet video streaming. Then the always available smartphone taking video to new levels of accessibility and quality along with pocket size gimbal stabilised cinema quality cameras like the legendary DJI Osmos Pocket 3 from, you have guessed it, China.

So what a clever futurologist I was in respect of video but I never saw audio as a standalone media becoming so popular. A bit like texting arriving on the phone scene accidently as a popular way of communicating when it was only originally intended as behind the scenes telephone network support messaging protocol for use by support staff. Podcasts as an entertainment media along with them being operated within a voice controlled AI device like the Amazon Echo Dot knowing and sharing my Amazon purchasing activities just came out of the blue yonder. A bit like AI in the form of ChatGPT has become my ever present side kick rather than Google search in my daily life since November 2023.  

So lets just here focus on standalone audio, originally called radio, I will leave the background to audio controlled AI to another blog . With radio as the first popular mass transmitted media with the first commercial radio station established on the Isle of Wight by Marconi in 1897. With the first transatlantic radio signal transmitted by Marconi in 1901.

Then for 100 years nothing really changed in radio broadcasting until 2001 when Podcasting developed from a technical background.

Key Milestones in the Development of Podcasting

2001-2003: Dave Winer, who was instrumental in developing the RSS feed, incorporated a feature that allowed for the inclusion of audio files (enclosures) in RSS feeds. This was a foundational step in making podcasting possible.

2004: The first podcast as we know it today was launched by Adam Curry. He created a program called iPodder, which allowed users to automatically download internet radio broadcasts to their iPods. This led to the term “podcasting,” a combination of “iPod” and “broadcasting,” though it’s now a general term and not tied specifically to Apple products.

October 2004: The term “podcast” was first mentioned in an article by journalist Ben Hammersley in The Guardian, where he speculated on possible names for the growing trend of audio blogging.

The First Recognized Podcasts from the Techies:

“Daily Source Code” (August 2004): Adam Curry launched one of the first widely recognized podcasts, Daily Source Code. It was initially aimed at developers but quickly grew in popularity among the general public.

This period in 2004 is generally considered the official beginning of podcasting as a distinct medium, leading to the explosion of podcast content across various genres that we see today.

But it wasn’t long before the podcasting capability invented and used in the technical world moved over to the commercial world.

But really it was commercially founded on the recording of book stories on tapes which got called audiobooks long before the internet. It was pioneered by a company called “Recorded Books” founded in 1978 by Henry Trentman in Maryland, America. Use the Wikipedia link below to read the background detail which will save me copy typing.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recorded_Books

 

Audiobooks and Podcasts

Audiobooks and podcasts, while both forms of audio content, have distinct origins and purposes. Audiobooks are recordings of books being read aloud, whereas podcasts are typically episodic series featuring spoken-word content, such as interviews, discussions, or storytelling.

However, there’s a convergence point where the two mediums began to influence each other, particularly in terms of content distribution and audience reach. This convergence can be seen in the early 2000s.

Key Developments:

Early 2000s: Audiobooks were primarily distributed on physical media, like CDs or tapes, and later via digital downloads. Meanwhile, podcasting emerged as a new format for audio content distribution, starting around 2004 with the advent of RSS feeds supporting audio enclosures.

2005 and Beyond: With the rise of podcasting, some audiobook publishers and creators started to experiment with serialized content or offering sections of audiobooks as podcasts. This allowed them to reach new audiences and adapt to the growing trend of on-demand audio content.

Late 2000s: Audible (an Amazon company) and other audiobook platforms began to incorporate features that mirrored podcast distribution, including subscription models and episodic content. Some podcast creators also began producing narrative, audiobook-style podcasts, blurring the lines between the two formats.

2010s: The popularity of podcasting grew exponentially, and the audiobook industry adapted by offering more serialized, podcast-like productions. Audible launched Audible Originals, which include content that often falls somewhere between traditional audiobooks and podcasts, with serialized storytelling and original productions tailored for audio.

Convergence of Audiobooks and Podcasts:

Serialized Audiobooks: Audiobooks began to be released in episodic formats similar to podcasts, allowing listeners to consume content in shorter segments.

Podcast-Like Audiobooks: Many narrative podcasts adopted storytelling techniques similar to audiobooks, offering highly produced, chapter-based content, often with a similar level of detail and production value.

Platforms: Services like Audible and podcasting platforms like Spotify have begun to offer both audiobooks and podcasts, recognizing the overlap in audience interests and listening habits.

While audiobooks and podcasts remain distinct, their evolution has seen a blending of formats, particularly as digital distribution channels have matured. Today, the line between the two can sometimes be blurred, especially with the rise of narrative-driven podcasts that resemble audiobooks in format and content.

 

Now for my favourite Podcast listening experience - Bunk Beds.

Now for my favourite late night, whilst lying in bed, request to Alexa. “Play me BBC Radio 4 Bunk Beds”.  It provides a perfect listening experience as you are lying in bed because you feel you have Patrick and James O’Connor lying beside you plus occasionally one of their invited guests. Four of you together. Bit like the good night ending to the Walton’s. Apologies to those of you if this last sentence means nothing. If so then see Afterword below to learn the background.

The “Bunk Beds” podcast is a unique and intimate audio series created by siblings Patrick and James O’Connor. Launched by the BBC, the podcast features the two brothers lying in bunk beds and having late-night conversations on a wide range of topics. The show is known for its cozy, relaxed atmosphere, often described as comforting and nostalgic, as it captures the essence of bedtime chats.

Key Features of the “Bunk Beds” Podcast:

 Format: Each episode typically involves the two brothers talking about various subjects, such as life experiences, childhood memories, and philosophical musings. The conversations are spontaneous and often meander through different themes, reflecting the natural flow of late-night talks.

Tone: The podcast is known for its gentle and soothing tone, with the brothers speaking softly, making it a relaxing listen, perfect for winding down at the end of the day.

Content: The discussions are often reflective, touching on personal and universal themes. The simplicity of the format, combined with the depth of the conversations, creates an engaging and intimate listening experience.

 Episodes: are usually short, around 15 to 20 minutes, making them easy to listen to in one sitting.

“Bunk Beds” has been praised for its originality and the way it captures the quiet, introspective moments between siblings, making it a beloved podcast for many listeners looking for something thoughtful and calming.

Afterword

I have looked up for you the background to the Walton’s comment above on ChatGPT.

The “Goodnight” scene from The Waltons is one of the most iconic and memorable moments in television history. The Waltons was a popular American TV series that aired from 1972 to 1981, portraying the life of a rural family in Virginia during the Great Depression and World War II.

The Goodnight Scene:

 Setting: The scene typically takes place at the end of each episode, set in the family’s home, specifically in their bedrooms as they are all going to sleep.

Structure: As the camera shows the exterior of the Walton home at night, the family members, who are in different bedrooms, start saying “Goodnight” to each other.

Famous Lines: It starts with one family member saying “Goodnight,” followed by another responding, until nearly every family member has said goodnight to each other. Some of the most iconic lines include:

        •       “Goodnight, John-Boy.”

        •       “Goodnight, Mary Ellen.”

        •       “Goodnight, Jim-Bob.”

Tone: The scene is warm and endearing, emphasizing the close-knit nature of the Walton family. It’s a simple yet effective way to show the family’s bond and love for one another.

 Cultural Impact: This goodnight ritual became a beloved part of the show, with many fans recalling it as a highlight. It became so iconic that “Goodnight, John-Boy” is often referenced in popular culture as a symbol of familial warmth and closeness.

The Waltons goodnight scene remains a symbol of comfort and family unity, and it continues to resonate with audiences as a nostalgic reminder of simpler times.

Wikipedia link on the Walton TV Series

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Waltons

DP24008 Eurofutures 1984 V01 140824

Launch this link below to read a PDF copy of “Eurofutures – the challenge of innovations” (1984) published by Butterworths as a FAST report on behalf of The Commission of the European Communities.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1C6G7-_sNxE67rX2eP-HCEHorObKSNWZQ/view?usp=sharing

Part of my Innovation Library

 

Like all good blogs lets begin with the obligatory story. Back in 2001 I was out of “paid employment” seeking a new employer. At 54 years old it was the usual nightmare struggle being essentially a IT Middle Manager without very specific marketable skills submitting CV’s and getting a 98% rejection rate. So in parallel to job hunting and to keep some sanity I looked to start two businesses. Both required a considerable investment before they could even hope to obtain any revenue.

Firstly I joined up with the mother of someone I had previously worked with at my last employer. It was Vivien Harley who owned and ran Business Network Limited a Redditch, Worcestershire based Training Business. The idea was I would write and deliver four individual One Day Training Courses on the leading trend of eCommerce. They would cover eCommerce Business, Solutions, Technology and Strategy. With excellent premises which were  fully IT equipped it was a perfect venue. The excellent three fold A3 card based pamphlet  is shown below. Vivien was excellent at marketing with both email and telephone call centre back up. But who could have foreseen the Twin Towers disaster on the 11^th September 2001 which just halted bookings although it had run very successfully with some paid for customers one a business development team from Belgium.

eCommerce Course Phamplet

Secondly, it was my software development business I called Active Publisher working with Dawn Baggott my programmer and Alan Bannister my PC expert son. It was the development of a book and every other type of printed material publishing and printing package, we called it Active Publisher, driving a large HP Two Sided Laser Printer. The significant innovation was the new automated two sided colour laser printers now entering the marketplace notably from HP.  

A prime target was Estate Agents and Car Sales where specific booklets could be produced to be given the customer based upon the local database of these item (s) that the customer had shown interest in receiving more printed information. A booklet or brochure or leaflet on a house or car printed on the spot.  Obviously, not surprisingly also the market for home based book publishers, like myself, being provided with a Print on Demand (POD) book printing capability. That's a surprise then.

Active Publisher User Manual - Leaflet Module

 

So there is the background. Now the story. Like all businesses in their development stages obtaining revenue with nothing to sell is always a nightmare which does prove somewhat soul destroying particularly if you at the same time cannot pay your domestic  bills. You are both having to try to earn a living whilst also investing in the assets required by your new business venture. Now like every new experience in life you always learn something new and normally unexpected. The unexpected was learning one way that the Business Network business obtained revenue. It was a bit of an serendipity moment.

In this case Vivien Harley at Business Network sourced some of her revenue by tendering and winning Government contracts to provide IT Learning Skills to the general public for free. Well this lead me to consider this as a route to getting revenue for my startup businesses.

So I found that Warwick University was offering a free 3 day course to innovative small businesses on how to apply for European Economic Community funding. So I thought Active Publisher met this criteria. This was “European Charter for Small Enterprises,” which was endorsed by the European Council in 2000 and implemented in the early 2000s. The European Economic Community (EEC), which had evolved to become European Union (EU) by this time  launching this initiative to promote entrepreneurship, innovation, and growth in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Europe. That's me. Perfect.   

The Warwick University had obviously submitted a proposal to the EU to get the funding to run this course for free for attendees like me. The course was brilliant especially the catering arrangements. At the beginning we all had to introduce ourselves and our innovative idea for which we wanted EU funding. One guy in this 80’s was proposing a new design of petrol engine. Another only looked about 12 years old and he had written an advanced video editing software package. The course emphasised that to be successful the  innovation needed to be aligned with providing the EU with significant social benefits. Typical. So overnight my Active Publisher become focussed upon being very suitable for use by those with special educational needs because it was so simple to use. It ticked more boxes on the form presented this way. I clearly remember going home to my wife and discussing with her when we want the £1m requested paid by which specific dates in four equal instalments. We submitted the form to the EU at the end of the course. I heard nothing for months only to receive a letter asking me to select a partner in a different European country to join me on the proposal. I selected HP in Paris, France because they made the printers I used with Active Publisher. I wrote to HP in Paris and never  got a reply but it did not stop me  submitted them as my partner in the letter back to the EU. Then I heard nothing for about 9 months. Then it arrived. Not surprisingly it was rejection letter. So this was the only experience I ever had in terms of EU promoting innovation . A waste of time and effort but the catering was excellent. Sadly what I had proposed was a very plausible genuine innovation. It would have been a worthy EU Investment. 

So back to the Eurofutures book I have given you a link to above. It was free in a Gloucester City Centre Charity Book Shop that just gave away books to the general public in 2019. No doubt funded by the European Union (EU). The reason I have bothered to share it is because it is a brilliant document. Reading it  now with 40 years passed by since its 1984 publication it was right on target. It did an excellent job of predicting the future with much of its content just as relevant today as back in 1984. Its focus upon bio-tech and info-tech was profound at the time. I have just re-read it with many excellent points being made in respect of employment, technology and society. One thing that immediately springs to mind is there was not even a hint of the development of the Smartphone and Cloud Computing two of the many  innovations not predicted. Smartphone as we know it today by Apple in June 2007 predated by Cloud Computing as we know it today by Amazon in 2002. But there were earlier prototypes of both of these but lacking the functionality  offered by Apple and Amazon respectively. This only proves that commercial enterprises particularly America ones are the best at innovation. Governments don't have a clue apart from the Chinese.

It is also obvious the EU lost out completely in terms of Information Technology in particular in chip design and more significantly manufacture. Europe did a lot better in the bio-tech innovation. Whilst Airbus secured a significant place next to Boeing in the aircraft industry. In terms of materials manufacturing and making things nobody could have predicted the rate at which China innovated to capture these markets illustrated by their push into the steel industry and at a consumer level electric cars where they currently lead the world and are likely to do so for the foreseeable future.

It goes without saying the new Labour Government needs to take on board innovation as a very specific government objective with a need for them to produce a similar report to this one now (2024) covering the next 40 years. I dread to mention Dominic Cummings yet again but he was a profound out of the box thinker who had grasped the need for this governmental approach to innovation. I have said it before and I will say it again Labour needs to tap into his thought processes because as mad as he seems he does have a profound vision for the future.

 The Small Print. No need to read as usual. 

Publisher Copyright of  “Eurofutures“ is acknowledged as the Butterworths & Co (Publishers) with their association with the Commission of European Communities.

DMB Publishing the Digital Publisher of this digitised copy operates on a strictly non for profit basis, whilst it is shared here strictly under a Creative Commons 4.0 Licence defined by CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Deed. The copyright owners are acknowledged and if there is any objection to this digitised copy being shared the content will be immediately removed from the internet. The sole objective of its publication on the internet is to raise public awareness of this publication whilst ensuring its retention for posterity so future generations can have access to its content.

Afterword

It does appear some journal websites charge to provide a digital copy of this book although it is 40 years old with the content completely out of date. It only acts as an historical artefact and it should be noted it has been used for this purpose only within this blog post.  

Someone charging £20 for what I have given you for free above. At least like me they agree it should be given a second chance at publication all be it as an historical artefact.