Human Examples of Spotting Opportunity by Paul Ranson https://padlet.com/pranson/qinz0mhctttrsvs Human Examples of Spotting Opportunity en-us 2020-09-11 12:59:47 UTC 2026-01-13 07:19:16 UTC hello@padlet.com The Mother of All Demos pranson https://padlet.com/pranson/qinz0mhctttrsvs/wish/1780837806 In 1968 Douglas Engelbart made a presentation to the computer society conference in San Francisco. In his presentation he outlined computer intefaces that to the casual 21st century observer are common place in computers today.

In the demonstration, Englebart shows a word processor, windows style pop ups and a computer mouse.

It to Microsoft until 1985 to "replicate" this idea. Apple produced their version in 1984!

#spottingopportunity #replication

]]> 2021-09-30 09:37:24 UTC https://padlet.com/pranson/qinz0mhctttrsvs/wish/1780837806 Michael Phelps Shark Swimsuit pranson https://padlet.com/pranson/qinz0mhctttrsvs/wish/1780853973 In the 2008 Olympics Michael Phelps caused a lot of media attention not just because of his athletic achievements, but also because of a remarkable swimsuit he was wearing.

Scientists discovered that a sharks skin was covered with tiny V shaped scales that they called dermal denticals or “skin teeth”.  In a demonstration of arbitrage, the olympic team took this idea and made a fabric that recreated the sharks skin in the exact same way. The results of wearing the suit improved swimmers speed.

This transposing of discoveries made in the natural world to create human value is called biomimicry and a quick trawl of the Internet will reveal many interesting cases.

What Is Biomimicry? – Biomimicry Institute
Sharkskin = Swimsuit | Example of Biomimicry Design (psu.edu)

#spottingopportunity #arbitrage #biomimicry
]]> 2021-09-30 09:46:30 UTC https://padlet.com/pranson/qinz0mhctttrsvs/wish/1780853973 Care Staff Caring for Dementia Patients in Pyjamas pranson https://padlet.com/pranson/qinz0mhctttrsvs/wish/1780863332 Many people that live with dementia, a condition which amongst others causes them pace around at all hours not realising it is night time. realised that  dementia patients saw care staff wearing their day clothes rather than pyjamas. Such uniforms 

Using Outrospection and walking in the shoes (slippers), Lime Court Care Home worn by staff represented a subliminal cue to residents that it was acceptable to be wandering late at night.

Switching uniforms at resident bed-time made a significant behavioural change in the residents.

Read the news story here
CASE STUDY: Care staff wearing pyjamas at night-time - Care Forum | Forum Events Ltd (thecareforum.co.uk)

#spottingopportunity #outrospection
]]> 2021-09-30 09:52:06 UTC https://padlet.com/pranson/qinz0mhctttrsvs/wish/1780863332 James Dyson's Bagless Vacuum Cleaner pranson https://padlet.com/pranson/qinz0mhctttrsvs/wish/1780868657 James Dyson is an inventor and when he observed a dust extraction system at a saw mill realised he could make a vacuum cleaner. He famously had 5127 different itterations before it was production ready.

#betterfastercheaper #spottingopportunity #arbitrage #incubation


]]> 2021-09-30 09:55:04 UTC https://padlet.com/pranson/qinz0mhctttrsvs/wish/1780868657 Epstein signs the Beatles pranson https://padlet.com/pranson/qinz0mhctttrsvs/wish/1780878117 Brian Epstein was a music entrepreneur similar to Simon Cowell. His crowning achievement was to “discover” and invest in the Beatles. Although he was not a music producer he did sell records at the family shop.
When customers came to the shop asking about a German Covers Band called the Beatles he realised that there was an opportunity. He knew the band from the Cavern Club and when they explained that they had been rejected from numerous record companies (including Decca) he proposed he manage them.

#spottingopportunity
#incubation
He guided them from “beatnik” style to their suit wearing clean cut image for which we are all familiar. Know ultimately as the 5th Beatle, he went on to manage other iconic bands of the 1960’s.
]]> 2021-09-30 10:00:41 UTC https://padlet.com/pranson/qinz0mhctttrsvs/wish/1780878117 Formula 1 Pitstop Crew Meet the Welsh Midwives pranson https://padlet.com/pranson/qinz0mhctttrsvs/wish/1780881235 A real life example of the practice of the arbitrage technique of spotting opportunity can be seen in the activities of the University Hospital of Wales rescutiation team meeting with the Williams Formula One pitstop crew to explore techniques used in motor racing could be transferred to the neonatal resuscitation team. 

Organised by Dr Rachel Haward and Claire Williams the neonatal team spotted a number of changes based on the experience. These included:
•Auditing of equipment and location on a trolley for streamlined use
•Standardising the floor space in delivery theatres
•Standard radio checks and use of hand signals rather than voice communication
•Video analysis to analyse performance following a rescutiation

Read the news story here
Health in Wales | Formula One Pitstop Techniques to Help in the Resuscitation of New Born Babies

#spottingopportunity
#abitrage

]]> 2021-09-30 10:02:41 UTC https://padlet.com/pranson/qinz0mhctttrsvs/wish/1780881235 Volkswagen’s Secret Unofficial GTI Development Team pranson https://padlet.com/pranson/qinz0mhctttrsvs/wish/1780886903 The development of the Golf GTI wasn’t originally an official project.

A team of motor sports enthusiasts that work at VW met in secret and decided to make a sportly light weight version of the car using standard components. When their project was unveiled the management saw an opportunity to create a new sector of the motor industry… the “hot hatch”.

Here is the story as a video

https://youtu.be/awSXsROOLOE

#spottingopportunity
#betterfastercheaper
#incubation

]]> 2021-09-30 10:06:06 UTC https://padlet.com/pranson/qinz0mhctttrsvs/wish/1780886903