Comments on: TREND 2: “Total Commerce”

By: J Doyle

J Doyle — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 11:40:26 +0000

The point about user-generated content is important, and projects like Wikipedia are wonderful, and Ireland should certainly work to grow national participation, internally and projecting outwards. But we also need to remember that most of the world’s knowledge, despite some hype, is not on the internet, and nor is most of the revenue-generating capacity. In particular, most academic research, and even more so, industry-led R&D, is at best partially visible. We need to work on shared-creation content, but also to lever this into business. At a broader level, the Web is certainly opening powerful new potential for commerce, politics and other sectors, but Ireland is not yet a strong beneficiary of this. And on the distribution issue, barriers are reduced but not gone: if in doubt, have a look at how many merchants on online stores, even famous eBay, only want to deal with people in their geography (because of postal concerns, ignorance, impatience…). But I agree re. the micro-business concept (as long as we remember that a majority of all new businesses do fail, and there is no shame in this, and State agencies and banks should not hold it against people).

By: johnnyryan

johnnyryan — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 22:46:46 +0000

Since you mentioned Estonia as an example, see my interview with President Ilves on these very subjects when he visited the IIEA earlier in 2008
pt 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIK4gcT115Q
pt 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD8YTMTtQtc

By: R Almatev

R Almatev — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 22:42:27 +0000

Important points about the changing world (and Irish venture Changing Worlds’ recent news a good example of this trend) but a taste of reality needs to be injected. The Irish are using e-commerce more but are behind on m-commerce, and the laptop-per-person – or even per household – is a long way off.

Yes, Facebook, and even, more recently, pro-network LinkedIn, allow applications to be made and traded. But how many make money? And does Ireland have the supports? I asked a senior Enterprise Ireland guy about Bebo and Facebook at a reception in February, and he only knew them vageuly as something the kids used. Check LinkedIn for Irish Enterprise Bodies, Academics and Public Servants. Don’t worry, you will *not* be overwhelmed by the results.

We need something, more than the Cabinet – almost an anti-incentive – to stimulate general usage. True e-government is probably it. We can learn from Estonia, Singapore, Australia and others. But please, no trips full of tubby councillors. Borrow – a sort of national service – and send some real pros, from the big telecoms and IT vendors, and consultancies.