My first video recorder (circa 1984) was a Sony Betamax.
The Beta format had hi-fi stereo recording capabilities before that was available in VHS and the picture quality was considered better, but the smaller cassette size limited the recording length on a single tape. For the handful of people who figured out how to program their video cassette recorders, VHS won the format battle because it could handle 6 hours on a single tape, equivalent to a full week of a favourite soap opera for weekend binge viewing.
While BB10, in our opinion, is technologically superior to many mobile platforms, it has failed to generate the recovery BlackBerry had hoped for and continues to be the primary source of losses for the company
One has to ask if Blackberry is offering a technically superior solution that the broad marketplace simply doesn’t value sufficiently to allow the product to remain viable.
Is my Blackberry going to move into the same museum as my Betamax?
When Canada first launched its consultation for a national digital strategy, there was such promise.
The announcement was made jointly by Tony Clement (then Minister of Industry), James Moore (then Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages), and Diane Finley (then Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development). It was promising to see a comprehensive, tri-departmental approach. After all, Industry would cover the issues of carriage and growth of the ICT sector, Heritage would represent the issues associated with content and Human Resources would deal with, well, human resources.
The original consultation included a discussion paper providing details on 5 broad themes being considered – themes that corresponded to the breadth of responsibilities that were represented by the Ministers:
Capacity to Innovate Using Digital Technologies;
Building a World-Class Digital Infrastructure;
Growing the Information and Communications Technology Industry;
Digital Media: Creating Canada’s Digital Content Advantage; and
Building Digital Skills for Tomorrow.
Four years later, when the long overdue “strategy” was released, the document didn’t seem to address many of the issues raised by various parties in response to the consultation.
By the time the digital strategy was actually released, only the Minister of Industry was part of the announcement.
The 26-page Digital Canada 150 pamphlet [pdf] contained just 2 actions related to “building digital skills for tomorrow”:
“Support for the Computers for Schools Program will continue to provide students and interns with access to digital equipment and skills training”;
and, “We have realigned programs to support digital skills development and promote enrolment in key disciplines related to the digital economy.”
I noticed two interesting charts that show the importance of investing more resources in understanding how a skilled work force can contribute to Canada’s performance in a global digital economy.
The first chart examines which countries have the highest proportion of the population employed in skilled jobs; the second looks at the most innovative countries.
Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland and Israel are on both of those lists. We should try to understand that correlation.
As ICTC indicated in announcing its digital talent strategy consultation, “The key to ensuring that Canada is set up for success is to ensure that there skilled talent to drive innovation and competitiveness, as entrepreneurs or as part of the workforce.”
After more than a decade of investing in infrastructure, will the next government do more to invest in people? What are the best ways for the government to promote digital skills development?
The 2015 edition of The Canadian ISP Summit will be taking place November 9-11 at the Toronto Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre.
I will be moderating the closing panel on the afternoon of November 11, The Regulatory Forum, with Chris Tacit, Jonathan Daniels and Michael Geist. Chris is a lawyer who does considerable work for Canada’s independent ISPs; Jonathan is VP of Regulatory Law at Bell; and, Michael is a law professor at University of Ottawa.
The four of us have been doing this panel for a few years now and it is fun, often feisty, and informative. We’ll be talking about such issues as the Basic Service Obligation proceeding, MVNOs, Quebec wanting ISPs to block gambling websites, and much more. What issues would you like us to cover?
Sunday evening marks the start of Rosh Hashana, the beginning of the Jewish calendar year 5776. Our offices will be closed on Monday and Tuesday.
As I have explained in previous years, Rosh Hashana [literally, the “head” of the year], starts a 10 day period of personal reflection quite different from the partying that characterizes December 31. The blast of the shofar [ram’s horn] in our synagogues signals a time of personal and communal introspection, examining the deeds of the past year and looking forward to a year of improvement ahead.
In writing this blog, and my Twitter feed, it has always been my intent to challenge readers to look at issues from a different perspective. If I have failed and inadvertently caused hurt through my words, I am sorry; allow me to express my regret.
The year ahead will see changes in Canada’s communications industry. Regardless of whether our Prime Minister wears a tie that is blue, orange or red, we already know there will be a new Minister of Industry named later this fall, bringing a new vision to guide the policy development for our dynamic sector. There are many opportunities to improve the communications landscape in the coming year.
May the year 5776 be marked by good health, by personal and professional growth and may it be a year of peace.
Last month, I asked if digital issues will factor into the way people vote. We are now 40 days away from Canada’s federal election and looking to see signs of how the major parties will differentiate their approach to substantial issues to drive the digital economy.
What are the key elements that need to be addressed?
Inclusiveness: Which political parties will recognize the need to get low-income households online? There are solutions for connecting rural and remote regions, but the bigger issue is that of affordability, regardless of geography. As frequent readers know, my personal priority is to ensure all school aged kids have access to a connected home computer.
Skills development: ICTC – the Information and Communications Technology Council – has launched a project in partnership with Microsoft Canada to develop a national digital talent strategy, seeking to ensure that Canada will have skilled talent to drive innovation and competitiveness, as entrepreneurs or as part of the workforce.
e-Government: What kinds of efficiencies can be derived from an effective e-Government strategy, including e-Health, distance education and delivery of other government services?
Digital economic policy: An expert panel should reviewing legislation and policy to ensure consistency with a drive to have Canadians benefit from and lead in the development of a digital economy. Canada is long overdue for an overall Telecom Policy review; the last report was delivered in 2006 [which called for a review to be held every 5 years -we are coming up on 10 years]. The last review pre-dated the AWS spectrum auction [that led to the creation of WIND Mobile, and the mobile operations of Videotron and Eastlink], CASL [Canada’s Anti-Spam Law], copyright reform, digital surveillance, Digital Canada 150 and major changes to policy and regulation emanating from the CRTC [such as Talk TV].
In what other areas are you are you expecting leadership from the parties that hope to form the next government?
As political parties release their digital platforms, what do you want to see?
[Update: September 9, 5:00 pm]
The Green Party has released its platform [pdf], calling for digital skills upgrades, enshrining net neutrality rules in legislation and repealing the electronic surveillance provisions of Bill C-51.
