Recent slump in oil prices is a very negative thing for oil producers. What should they do if low oil prices are the new norm?
1. Focus on efficiency. If company wants to focus on oil, then focus on building the most efficient systems to get that oil in to the market. Less efficient companies will eventually die out, or become purchase targets. Realistically; it is impossible to dream of massive profits, but a solid and good return will come to those who don't reach too far.
2. Sell out. You believe oil is never going to become profitable again? Then sell out. Sell the whole oil part of the company and either
•find a new investing target for the money, such as renewable energy or a completely new area where you see potential for the future
•sell all assets, close the company and return the money to the shareholders
3. Start to expand and reduce your dependency on oil . Take those oil profits and look for new investment targets. Here can be talked about tobacco companies; they have expanded to completely different areas to perhaps improve their image or just to get that money from burning their hands. If you are afraid of the dark scenario, then begin to look for new opportunities and do not waste money in to new oil projects, unless they are of the best quality.
February 6, 2016
January 18, 2016
How robots could become part of our lives
1. Car washing. A group of factory robots that washes your car. More efficient water usage, quick and better detail cleaning. They need to be able to see shapes of different types of cars and react to those.
2. Cooking. There is already a prototype aimed at households. Same idea works with large industrial kitchens where proportions are large and constant. Robots just need to learn to handle varying food items and sizes and all kitchen tools. Imagine constant production and a chef that never gets tired to make the same dish 24/7. Imagine going to a food kiosk where you always get a fresh warm meal thanks to a robot chef that never sleeps.
3. Window washing by little flying droids. Perhaps easiest way is to have a large group of them that go through all the building's windows and they have a base where they can refill on water and fluids. Probably they should be able to attach to walls so they can efficiently clean the entire window: fly there, attach, clean, fly away.
4. Security system. Everyone permitted carries an electronic tag, which is recognised by a system of cameras and sensors. Everyone else is in the area/building is a reason for automatic alarm for security personnel. First a few droids arrive to ask the intruder to leave, then perhaps shoot the intruder with an electric shock or a tranquilizer. During this human personnel is coming to the scene.
5. A basic cleaning droid that is able to learn. Imagine your current little robot going around the house and swooping dirt off the floor. Now imagine the that droid with an ability to learn what the floorplan is, where things such as tables (objects) are located and where it is most needed. Thanks to its learning, it will learn to be in the kitchen after cooking hours when dirt is most likely, or clean the front door once people have arrived back home.
6. Repairing a car (or any vehicle) could be left totally to be done by a robots if a) all vehicles are built under same rules, or b) the robot has an extensive database in its disposal to recognize all cars and has access to their detailed informations. Old vehicles are more difficult as the robot would have to be able to find the problems, which modern cars might recognize and tell to the repair bot.
7. Surgeons will be replaced by robots. Imagine a surgeon that is never tired and has an access to a vast database, even while doing the operation. Robots need to develop to a level where different sized people with different operating needs are no longer a problem (like the kitchen bot).
8. Autonomous sea exploration. A "ship" that is able to recharge its batteries for example by wave or sun energy and is able to operate autonomously for long periods. It contains a small fleet of smaller capsules that it send to study deeper and harder to reach places. This data is then relayed by satellites to the information center where it can be studied.
9. Pharmacists can be replaced by robots. Your local pharmacy is always open for those in need. Those with a recipe simply show their code to the robot and it packs the medicine. Only worry I see is that in those rare cases when doctor has made a mistake and amount of medicine is too large, a human pharmacist might notice the issue, but how could a robot notice it unless there are safeguards already at the hospital.
10. Everyday objects like your mirror and kitchen table can be used as information screens, while the computer is either a tiny supercomputer in the object, a supercomputer in person's home, or everything is connected to a cloud and computing power is maintained by company X. This network can then maintain everything in your house, such as your washing machine and cleaning droid.
2. Cooking. There is already a prototype aimed at households. Same idea works with large industrial kitchens where proportions are large and constant. Robots just need to learn to handle varying food items and sizes and all kitchen tools. Imagine constant production and a chef that never gets tired to make the same dish 24/7. Imagine going to a food kiosk where you always get a fresh warm meal thanks to a robot chef that never sleeps.
3. Window washing by little flying droids. Perhaps easiest way is to have a large group of them that go through all the building's windows and they have a base where they can refill on water and fluids. Probably they should be able to attach to walls so they can efficiently clean the entire window: fly there, attach, clean, fly away.
4. Security system. Everyone permitted carries an electronic tag, which is recognised by a system of cameras and sensors. Everyone else is in the area/building is a reason for automatic alarm for security personnel. First a few droids arrive to ask the intruder to leave, then perhaps shoot the intruder with an electric shock or a tranquilizer. During this human personnel is coming to the scene.
5. A basic cleaning droid that is able to learn. Imagine your current little robot going around the house and swooping dirt off the floor. Now imagine the that droid with an ability to learn what the floorplan is, where things such as tables (objects) are located and where it is most needed. Thanks to its learning, it will learn to be in the kitchen after cooking hours when dirt is most likely, or clean the front door once people have arrived back home.
6. Repairing a car (or any vehicle) could be left totally to be done by a robots if a) all vehicles are built under same rules, or b) the robot has an extensive database in its disposal to recognize all cars and has access to their detailed informations. Old vehicles are more difficult as the robot would have to be able to find the problems, which modern cars might recognize and tell to the repair bot.
7. Surgeons will be replaced by robots. Imagine a surgeon that is never tired and has an access to a vast database, even while doing the operation. Robots need to develop to a level where different sized people with different operating needs are no longer a problem (like the kitchen bot).
8. Autonomous sea exploration. A "ship" that is able to recharge its batteries for example by wave or sun energy and is able to operate autonomously for long periods. It contains a small fleet of smaller capsules that it send to study deeper and harder to reach places. This data is then relayed by satellites to the information center where it can be studied.
9. Pharmacists can be replaced by robots. Your local pharmacy is always open for those in need. Those with a recipe simply show their code to the robot and it packs the medicine. Only worry I see is that in those rare cases when doctor has made a mistake and amount of medicine is too large, a human pharmacist might notice the issue, but how could a robot notice it unless there are safeguards already at the hospital.
10. Everyday objects like your mirror and kitchen table can be used as information screens, while the computer is either a tiny supercomputer in the object, a supercomputer in person's home, or everything is connected to a cloud and computing power is maintained by company X. This network can then maintain everything in your house, such as your washing machine and cleaning droid.
January 13, 2016
Looking at my apartment and practising to question the way of things
Why
•windows are square
•windows don't collect sunrays
•my tv is so bulky
•carpets are not warmer
•chair are so fragile
•I have a shelf full of books and DVDs
•why I have doors inside my home
•kitchen is full of square corners
•walls are covered by wallpaper
•I still have bookshelfs
•I have any physical items
•dumbbells need to be so heavy and bulky
•we use keys to enter our home
•do we have radiators taking space and making walls ugly
•aren't radiators inside the walls
•ceiling lamps can only be placed in where wires are installed
•floor carpets are so fragile
•we have rooms
•have big bulky tables
•and a huge bed
•we need all those electrical cables running around
•we have walls that we can't draw art on
•have such thick walls
•couch is covered by material that gets dirty and is impossible to clean
•tv outlet in the wall is so big and bulky
•do we have door handles
•don't we have intelligent glass doors that you can lock by touch and your watch is the key
•this apartment is so dumb and without AI
•why I have to cook myself and take time away from more important and enjoyable activities
•why don't we have an all surfaces cleaning robot
•who is going to wash those windows from the outside..
•isn't there a little flying robot for that
•isn't there an AI I could talk to
•I'm still holding a big laptop to do this
•couldn't windows be monitors
•couldn't walls change colour by command
•is the fridge so stupid and bulky
•why all the cabinets are not inside the walls but instead are taking space from the apartment
•why I can't control everything in my home through a tablet
•aren't doors and windows isolated better
•I have all those damn papers
?
•windows are square
•windows don't collect sunrays
•my tv is so bulky
•carpets are not warmer
•chair are so fragile
•I have a shelf full of books and DVDs
•why I have doors inside my home
•kitchen is full of square corners
•walls are covered by wallpaper
•I still have bookshelfs
•I have any physical items
•dumbbells need to be so heavy and bulky
•we use keys to enter our home
•do we have radiators taking space and making walls ugly
•aren't radiators inside the walls
•ceiling lamps can only be placed in where wires are installed
•floor carpets are so fragile
•we have rooms
•have big bulky tables
•and a huge bed
•we need all those electrical cables running around
•we have walls that we can't draw art on
•have such thick walls
•couch is covered by material that gets dirty and is impossible to clean
•tv outlet in the wall is so big and bulky
•do we have door handles
•don't we have intelligent glass doors that you can lock by touch and your watch is the key
•this apartment is so dumb and without AI
•why I have to cook myself and take time away from more important and enjoyable activities
•why don't we have an all surfaces cleaning robot
•who is going to wash those windows from the outside..
•isn't there a little flying robot for that
•isn't there an AI I could talk to
•I'm still holding a big laptop to do this
•couldn't windows be monitors
•couldn't walls change colour by command
•is the fridge so stupid and bulky
•why all the cabinets are not inside the walls but instead are taking space from the apartment
•why I can't control everything in my home through a tablet
•aren't doors and windows isolated better
•I have all those damn papers
?
January 6, 2016
CASE – VEIKKAUS
Question:
Kuinka raaputusarvat voivat olla kiinnostavampia?
1.
Hyödyntämällä hieman psykologiaa saadaan
asiakkaat entistä kiinnostuneemmiksi.
2.
Saman nimen alla oleva arpasarja, joka muuttuu
parin viikon välein. Pidetään kiinnostus yllä, asiakas ei koskaan tiedä
ennakkoon mitä kortista löytyy. Välillä arpa on hauska, joskus surullinen,
seuraavaksi pelottava.
1. Hyödynnetään dataa. Mikä arpa myy, mikä ei, miten myynnit jaksottuvat jne jne.. Opitaan jatkuvasti kehittämään toimintaa seuraamalla asiakkaiden päätöksiä.
3.
Nostetaan asiakkaassa erilaisia tunteita.
Tarkoitus ei ole olla tyypillinen raapusarpa, vaan arpa jota raaputtamalla
yllättyy (ja joskus voittaa rahaa samalla).
a.
Mahdollista myydä netissä ja/tai kaupoissa.
4.
Sarjan nimi voi olla ”Mysteeriarpa”.
5.
Sen sijaan, että raaputettaisiin 3 samaa
tyyliin, tehdään hommasta uutta. Arvon ostaja raaputtaa esimerkiksi kuvan /
vitsin / lauseen .
6.
Raaputusarpa sisältää hajustetta, joka vapautuu
kortin pintaa raaputettaessa.
a.
Esimerkiksi mansikkateemainen arpa tuoksuu
mansikalta sitä raaputettaessa.
7.
Arpojen koko
a. S,
L, XL tyyliin, suurempi arpa on
arvokkaampi ja tuo suuremmat voitot.
Raaputusarpojen
teemoja:
8.
Paholaisen arpa
a.
Voitto saamalla 666 .
9.
Enkelin kosketus
a.
Kuva enkelistä tuo voiton.
10. Las
Vegas
a.
Kirsikoilla, mansikoilla, 777:lla voittaa.
11. Kauhuarpa
a.
Söpö pupu =
ei voittoa; Punaiset silmät/ Verinen kirves / Moottorisahamies = voitto.
12. Laivasota
a.
Kanuunat tähtäävät kohti vihollislaivaa,
raaputtamalla näet osuitko kohteeseen.
13. Masentunut
panda
a.
Masentunut panda kertoo esimerkiksi: ”Olen
pahoillani, toin sinulle 100 euroa.” / ”Ei voittoa. Hyvä niin, raha tuo vain
murheita.”
14. Rallilegenda
a. Voitit jos pysyit tiellä. Kuvassa ralliauto on
joko päässyt maaliin tai ajanut metsään/hajonnut/rengasrikko.
15. Tuhmat
lauseet
a.
Raaputus paljastaa esimerkiksi vanhankansan
pervon vitsin.
16. Raaputus
paljastaa yhden ruudun sarjakuvavitsin. Jos se on täydellinen, =voitto, jos
puhekupla on tyhjä niin ei tullut voittoa.
17. Ajankohtaisten
tapahtumien hyödyntäminen
a. Jääkiekon
Liigan finaali, jääkiekon MM, pesäpallon finaali, jalkapallon MM/EM…
i. Erikoiskortteja
joiden tuotosta menee normaalia suurempi osa esimerkiksi suoraan
junnu toimintaan. Talvisota-arpa, jolla tuetaan sotaveteraaneja.
18. Kekkonen
a.
Kymmenen riviä, kaikissa pitää lukea Kekkonen
niin voitit päävoiton.
CASE - Sony and PlayStation 4
Question:
How to make PS4 seem more attractive to consumers?
•Advertisement
1.
Use Freelance.com to bring out hundreds of ideas
for a visionary ad campaing.
Latest commercial ”Life of a
PS4 player” is a good advertisement, but it doesn’t bring out the feeling of
”oh my gosh, I really want that”.
a. Cheap approach to a large pool of idea rich
creators.
2.
Ask your own gamers to build an ad (best videos
should be rewarded, could be per category). Your trusted gamers have the best
chance to use beautiful gameplay footage from PS4 (Uncharted 4, Witcher 3,
etc.) to show the beauty and excitement when playing on PS4.
•Competitions, e-sports
1.
Best players should be on PS4, for that they
need a reason and best motivation is money. Actual competitions where best
players get a real rewards.
a.
Thanks to Youtube and Twitch, these competitions
can be streamed for the whole world to see.
b.
Rewards can vary from $100,000 to a Sony TV or
to 200e in PSN shop money, based of the importance of the competition.
c.
Some competitions should be purely silly in
their idea to attract less serious gamers like younger children (to grown loving the
games and the community).
d.
Imagine a big tournament on a custom made PlayStation
tournament map that is streamed to millions and news about the winner are published
all around the media.
e.
Players can also participate by paying a minimal
fee of for example $1. The participation money is then shared with the winners
and this has cost nothing to Sony, but brought a bit of streaming fame.
•PlayStation Store
1. Clarity and easiness to find certain products. It can be confusing and it is especially troublesome to find smaller games that are digital only.
2. Support smaller game makers to find customers. Visibility is vital, feedback, support to be creatively crazy and experiment.
a. You never know which small game leads to success and the next AAA title from that small company (like one certain Naughty Dog did).
3. More special sales. Look at what STEAM is doing, they take advantage of every reason to have a big sale. Great reasons are: holiday sales (can be themed for the country as well), sport game discounts during big sport events and 20th year of PlayStation.
a. For example: ”Your country just won gold in ice hockey World Championships, so here is NHL 16 for 60% cheaper.”
i. If you have made a good and solid console, then the customer never needs to rebuy. Therefore value of services as income provides is increased tremendously. Services, such as PSN+ need gamers who want to play so they bring income, therefore it might even be more beneficial to get gamers by cheaper games so they buy the extra services.
i. If you have made a good and solid console, then the customer never needs to rebuy. Therefore value of services as income provides is increased tremendously. Services, such as PSN+ need gamers who want to play so they bring income, therefore it might even be more beneficial to get gamers by cheaper games so they buy the extra services.
4. Pricing of big titles is too high. Do you have a good answer why a gamer should buy a digital copy for the same price, by which he can get it from his local store. Then a downloaded game doesn’t take a bunch of space from his hard drive, and when he doesn’t like the game anymore he can sell it and get money for a new game.
If you don’t have a solid answer to that, then something is indeed wrong.
If you don’t have a solid answer to that, then something is indeed wrong.
a. People choose to do what is easy and gives them what they want faster. The cheaper a digital copy is to a hard copy, the more it makes sense to choose the digital version.
i. You have a bunch of data about sales in your disposal, you have already analyzed possible price levels that are the best, right?
•Relatable face(s) that
represent PlayStation brand
1. PlayStation
Access –team is a great idea and it should be used more. Their faces should be
seen more in gaming media as representatives of PS4 to the gamers.
a.
They could be the first to bring out big news about games and anything related to PS4.
They could be the first to bring out big news about games and anything related to PS4.
2.
Acquiring Kojima was a great decision. His face and name are well known, but
more public relations work is needed since many heads of game development are
badly known. Familiarity gets people to care about what you do.
•Indie developers
1. Support indie developers as much as you can.
a. Small developers are what grow to produce AAA titles, small developers take risks and have crazy ideas that sometimes become great ideas, small developers attract different type of players than generic AAA games.
•Indie developers
1. Support indie developers as much as you can.
a. Small developers are what grow to produce AAA titles, small developers take risks and have crazy ideas that sometimes become great ideas, small developers attract different type of players than generic AAA games.
•Backwards compatibility
1. PS2
console sold millions and millions, how many PS2 games are out there in players
hands? Games that they can’t play on their new, beautiful and powerful PS4
(plus all those other millions of PS1 and PS3 games).
a. I
have seen many players like me that have their shelfs full of PS2 games to complain
that they can’t play their old favorite games. Now Sony has started to bring
some of those games in to PlayStation Store, but that only means players are
forced to rebuy what they already have.
b.
Best solution in gamers eyes would be to make it
possible to play all those games that they already own, plus also making them available for purchase
from PlayStation Store for those who don’t yet have them, or simply want the
better graphics and trophies.
•Combo deals, TV + PS4
1. Sony
is also manufacturer of great TVs (and other electronics). Especially TV+PS4
combo deals would make sense.
a.
Customer buying a TV/PS4 would be notified that buying the other as well would result in a discount of certain percentage.
Customer buying a TV/PS4 would be notified that buying the other as well would result in a discount of certain percentage.
b. Customer
buying a PS4 gets ANY PS4 game from the store shelf for X% cheaper.
i. Customer
gets a PSN code to get any digital copy for free. This should be tied to the
console to prevent code resales.
•Listen and Acknowledge
1. Players
often complain that Sony does not fix the problems they try to point out.
a. Acknowledge
you have heard players and give feedback on the challenges you are attempting
to fix at the moment.
i. When
people think there is a problem and try to tell about it, but are not
acknowledged that is when they feel they are not important enough to be cared
about. Every gamer needs to feel like he is important. Listen and acknowledge
what players say.
ii. Recent
action to ask players to say what PS2 games they want to play on PS4 was a
small, but good thing to do.
•Charity
1. Donate
consoles to children’s hospitals or other organizations.
a. These
can be PS4 / PS3 / PS2 consoles, just provide them with suitable games to make
receivers happy.
i. Positive
publicity
I Have Returned!
I now announce my return to Blogger platform! I will continue to be using Seeking Alpha for any texts related to investing and economics. This blog will be my place of ideas. My blogs might be about serious ideas for business improvements or just crazy things that I'm throwing around. The idea is to practise my creativity and thinking more than by just keeping stuff inside my own head. If you see something interesting, don't hesitate to leave a comment. Thank you!
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