The future of information - commoditisation is key
Jinfo Blog

By Penny Crossland

Abstract

The London Information Knowledge Exchange (LIKE) recently featured a talk by Dr Martin De Saulles of the University of Brighton. Promoting his new book Information 2.0 -new models of information production, distribution and consumption, De Saulles provided us with his vision of the information future in the UK, now that the technology revolution is finally coming to a head.

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The most recent event hosted by the London Information Knowledge Exchange (LIKE) featured an interesting talk by Dr Martin De Saulles of the University of Brighton. Promoting his new book Information 2.0 -new models of information production, distribution and consumption, De Saulles provided us with his vision of the information future in the UK, now that the technology revolution is finally coming to a head.

He painted a somewhat depressing picture of no bookstore or music store chains on our high streets, only one or two daily national printed newspapers and no new printed books in university libraries. Furthermore, with more than 90% of the population likely to own smart-phones within the next 5 years, digital cameras will become obsolete, as will calculators and navigation systems. On the up side, tablet devices and eBook readers are likely to become free eventually, with money being made on their content rather than on physical devices.

So what are the industries of the future and what will happen to those teaching the future generation? De Saulles predicted that data centres will proliferate as the storage of personal information becomes increasingly important. Information itself will become more and more commoditised, with money being made out of content management systems, blogging platforms and the renting of information. University students will, for example only want to rent books for particular courses rather than purchase them, which has been encouraged by iPad technology.

De Saulles also predicts that universities themselves will change radically – lectures will be free, as is already practised by the likes of Harvard and MIT, and will be watched by students online, while lecturers’ tasks will be to explain their content.

However, new and old technologies can operate side by side, a point also made by Rob Grimshaw, ft.com’s Managing Director. At the 2012 paidcontent conference, he predicted that, while the digital format will inevitably overtake print circulation, there will still be a future for printed newspapers, albeit in smaller formats and for more of a niche audience. Grimshaw also believes customisation and personalisation will become more important in the news industry in years to come.

FT.com has now reached 285,000 subscribers and is close to the point when it will overtake the FT’s print circulation. The Times is likely to reach that point by 2014. Asked about FT.com’s recipe for success, Grimshaw mentioned several points:

• Consistency – charging the right prices
• Learning how to become a retailer and run a B 2 C business
• Innovation – be prepared to take risks – an alien concept to most publishers - and learn from mistakes

Both De Saulles and Grimshaw pointed out that no matter what technology is on offer, consumers will demand content in a range of formats and publishers will have to respond to those demands. So, fear not, vinyls will still be around for some time, as will your Sunday newspaper.

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