The augmented economy

In the middle of my showreel, I talk about augmented  lifestyles. 
I’ve talked about this for many years, but now it is becoming an augmented
reality, especially with the launch of Google Glass.

Google’s glasses (I want!) allow you to see enhanced
information about all tjhat is around you in real-time …

Robert Scoble, the scobleizer and
most influential tech commentator out there, got to try the Glass for a
fortnight …

… and says that it has changed his life forever:

“I've been telling people that this reminds me of the Apple II, which I unboxed
with my dad back in 1977. It was expensive. It didn't do much. But I knew my
life had changed in a big way and would just get better and better.”

What this implies is a profound effect and impact on society,
and therefore customers and consumers.

If we can offer products and services at the customer’s point
of existence through an augmented delivery 24*7, then we can change things.

The example I normally use is Google’s ability to understand
our search and data usage needs.

As we search, it can log our wants and desires, including
those that you don’t want anyone else ot know about.

These wants and desires can then be leveraged through
partnerships.

For example, if you searched for a Sony Ultra HD TV last
night and found it at Best Buy online for $2,499, you might be driving the next
day and Google Glass will pop up an alert that the TV is on offer for pickup as
you drive by Best Buy for just $1,999 if you go instore now.

This linkup may then be leveraged through extended partnership.  So you drive to the store and Glass advises that
Citibank will approve a 36-month $2,000 loan at a 1% discount on advertised credit
rates.

You don’t need to do anything other than say ‘yes’ or ‘no’
or ‘later’, and all of this si stored in your personal cloud.

Sounds weird?

Not really, it’s all very near and  augmented service will be one step beyond the
experiential economy.

There’s even more happening than this though.

In fact Google’s former CEO  and now Chairman, Eric Schmidt, has just produced
an interesting new book with colleague Jared Cohen looking at our digital future.

Titled The New Digital
Age the book provides interesting visions for the future.

A few decades from now, the average metropolitan couple will
wake up to a massage from their bed as translucent screens follow them around
the apartment and house robots perform all the domestic chores whilst you are
out of the house.  We will be using clothing
machines that not only wash but also dry, fold, press and sort out our clothes
for us (no more lost socks, yay!). 
Compute power around us will autocharge wirelessly and holograms will
allow us to be in two places at once.

Sounds weird?

Not really, it’s all very near.

This is rapper Tupac joining Snoop Dogg and Dr Dre on stage
in 2012 (video NSFW):

The only thing is that Tupac was shot dead in 1996, so that’s
his  hologram recreated for the stage.

The holographic augmented world of the near future is rapidly approached, and we need to start thinking carefully about augmented servicing as a result.

“Any sufficiently
advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” Arthur C. Clarke, 1917 - 
2008