Returning to retail – virtually


In case you’ve been hiding, shopping is back for non-essential goods BUT not everyone wants to go. So what are the options for the shopper who wants to make a considered purchase so just a click on a website won’t do? In this episode I speak to Aman Khurana, co-founder of Go Instore, about how technology can play its part.

This podcast has been hitting higher numbers than ever during the lockdown period. If you’re one of the new listeners, welcome! (Existing listeners welcome too, just thanks everyone).

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Hearing aids – destroy the stigma, increase the functions


Hearing aids can be stigmatised because they’re associated with growing old – meanwhile the effects of hearing isolation on mental health can be profound. In this episode of the Near Futurist podcast I speak to Nick Hunn, chair of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, about moves to combine hearing aids with earbuds and turn them into something fun.

You can buy glasses as a fashion statement when their core function is to help your eyes – why should something to help your ears be any different?

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Keep on Keeping on (virtually)


With everybody under lockdown and entire households simultaneously on Zoom and Netflix, to say nothing of the business sector, you could be forgiven for expecting the Internet to slow down and collapse under the weight. It hasn’t. In this podcast Near Futurist Guy Clapperton chats to Angie Mistretta, CMO at AppDynamics, about what’s gone right and what businesses and individuals need to do to keep going.

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Retail after Covid, the experience economy


Nobody is kidding themselves that the retail market is going to be the same when Lockdown has stopped – names will vanish, already-squeezed margins will shrink. This is why retail consultant Meredith O’Shaughnessy thinks shops will have to focus on experience rather than shifting items – she tells near futurist Guy Clapperton more.

A slightly earlier release than normal as our usual Friday would clash with a bank holiday.

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Education has to change


Obviously everyone is isolated and technology is helping with the educational needs of the young. However, in this episode of the Near Futurist podcast, Sparx CEO Dan Sandhu tells Guy Clapperton that once people understand all of the possibilities being opened up, they won’t want to go back to old fashioned learning.

He’s not an #AI geek, he isn’t advocating scrapping the classrooms. Instead he calls for an evidence-based approach and is determined to do something practical about it. Listen to the episode for more.

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Cybersecurity and how safe we feel


Near Futurist Guy Clapperton interviews Etay Maor, chief tehnology officer of security specialist Insights. They explore mistakes people make but Maor also identifies a number of common errors that aren’t commonly reported – for example, how often do you remember to change passwords but still have all the ‘reset’ routines aimed at your gmail account?

Some excellent insights here if you’ll pardon the pun. If you like what you hear, why not leave a review on the iTunes website?

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