Innovating consumption thinking

Hey everyone,

Here is one more interesting reflection on this interesting video about collaborative consumption. Hope you like it, and think about it!




Linking back to some of the key ideas of this blog, and to the main theme of innovation, I found this video very enlightening. In a time of crisis and social networking, when the Y generation have taken over the world of technology, it is worthy thinking of consumption.

It is very intriguing to notice that once upon a time consumption was pretty much related to what we consume, as suggested by Rachel Bostman in the video. Even more shocking is to notice that it is true, if we think of a time where we consumed because we used to give value to the product, to the material, to the fabric, to the colours. In the capitalist world, consumption has gone far away from the idea of what we consume to why we consume and how we consume. I suppose that there are different types of consumption: the ones who consume because they want to, is a desire (present in all other kinds of consumerism); a minority, I would say, consume because they are used to it; and the other half of people today consume just to show off.

The fact that you have a Porsche, a Mercedes Benz or a Ferrari, the fact that you wear Armani, Gucci or Lacoste or that a woman has a Prada bag, certainly makes a lot of impression and make others think that you are rich. However, in the connected world, in the digital era the feeling must change, the perception must be focused on how we consume. Amazon and eBay has made the world of the Internet a millions business of consumption and sharing as put forward in this video.

Regardless of why you consume, I would say that the desire element is always present on the top of you head, only satisfied when you purchase that brand or product. Bringing it down to the world of the Internet and collaborative consumption, as mentioned throughout the video, novel ways of bringing that perception out of the desire are becoming popular. In the digital era where everything is related to the “I” theme, such as iPod, iPhone, iPad, the idea of sharing becomes of interest and needs to be further explored. The social media revolution I mentioned in an early publication on this blog comes back in the film, when Bostman explains what she believes are the four steps of that revolution, which for the purpose of her explanation she names Digital sharing evolution.

When the digital natives group moved from early forms of technology such as email, to Facebook and then the sharing of music and other interesting contents embedded within it, we then became interested to know more, to go further and explore other ways of sharing that might push forward the barrier of technologies and its features. The idea here is not just to be different and innovate, but to return to traditional forms of contact, as treated in the clip, but I would say that is not only because of we returned to that old school technique of sharing, but because we seek something new, we seek authenticity.

We are reaching a time in society’s attitude and mood when we are in a way becoming plastics, inanimate, mechanized as the Fordist industrial world was centuries ago. But on the other hands, the new generation are aware of this and are desperately hunting for new forms of being, new desires, authentic thinking. That authenticity then may be found in the nature of the past, in the nature of meeting the farmer who made the fresh milk, who produced the cheese and bread we are going to buy. The connection between digital and real then becomes necessary, becomes a need, not only that desire.

In the world of technology when everything is about self reflecting and turning to the inner personnel, it is just the correct time to wake up and say “there is also a world outside”. Yes, there is room for real connection, for authentic conversation rather than just chat with friends on Facebook and sharing content. It is good and necessary to have the technology, but it is also possible to link, the real and unreal, the authentic and the plastic.

Websites like eBay, amazon and others are just reinforcing some kind of consumption that we do not want anymore, the idea of a plastic and cold consumption where we do not touch things, we do not feel, we do not smell, human senses are being disposed off. In a world of global recession and global warming, we need a global understanding of how to build authentic lines of trust and relationships with goods and people, with environmental concern and health, to then be able to buy something because we capture the real need to it, the real objectification and necessity; the real self and the real desire.

In conclusion, the redefining of more, put by Bostman, is the major proposal here, is something that will certainly change the future by connecting past generations with future generations, the hard copies with digital copies to finally making together a real copy digitally made by social relations. The real future should indeed be a collaborative consumption future, where we think about how we can contribute to this world (remembering here the environmental and sustainability posts I recently did), to the society, not just thinking of consumption as a way to show off our material desire for goods, but to really care of what is important to consume, realize that together we can do, with the aid of digital, a brighter future.

That is it for today folks, sorry for the deep and long analyze here, but I just got a bit a excited about the topic. Hope you enjoyed and see you next time!

Your say!

Hey Folks,

This blog is just a month far from completing its 1 year birthday, and therefore I think this is the right moment for you to have your opinion and views on it helping me to improve it even more. Some time ago I have already published here some interesting questions for you to answer, but it seems that in that time nobody was really willing to give me any feedback, but this time considering that this blog has already improved its content and style of publication, I hope you can help me.

I am not listing any questions this time, I just want you, as a reader and perhaps a blogger as well have your say on this by telling me what is your expectations on this blog? what would you like to see here? I have acknowledged that you have been visiting a lot this blog, which is good and it is because you may have been attracted to a particular topic or point of view. For this reason I think you should tell me now why you come here and what can drag you to flip through the pages more frequently.

To finish this boring talk (it's important though) I would like to say that if you have a blog and have something to say about my blog, just leave your comments bellow and I will give you this unique chance to advertise your blog here, by pasting its link in the end of your comments. Deal? I hope so, and also wish that everyone visiting this blog from now on leave your comments and a feedback right bellow this post.

Thank you very much, take care and I will see you later!

Sustainability: a thought for the future

Hi Folks, Following the kind of same idea of my previous post on how to protect the environment, I found a video which kind of summarize the main points I was trying to say. I know it may sound annoying and boring for you to read and see this kind of video, but if you do not care about this, your sons may not be able to see the planet as you saw it when you were born, or perhaps will not be able to live as long as you did or you grand parents did. Take it serious, and have a look at this short video, leaving your comments after, lets share our thoughts and concerns. It helps you to understand the key issues around the theme sustainability and environment.

As I have already said, its quite self-explanatory, so I will skip my comments for today to allow you to concentrate on this video and in the words that can change the future of the planet!

Think about it and leave your thoughts by commenting bellow. See you next time and take care!

The environment needs you!

Hey folks,

Welcome back to my blog if you have been away for a while. After a long holiday being away from my blog, I am coming back for one more posting that can help you to reflect on an issue that concerns all of us, citizens of the world. Hope you like it and leave me your comments bellow.




Within the past decades we have seen human beings turning into beasts regarding the environment. Trees have been cut down, rubbish thrown over seas, streets, gardens, and other public spaces. An ever-increasing amount of cars being sold encouraging carbon emission, factories burning hazardous gases to the environment and so on. There is no preoccupation or whatsoever with the future of the world, with the place that we are leaving to our children and post generations.

The consequences for this have been experienced nowadays, with the global warming changing the world’s climate forever. The polar crops are slowly melting down, perhaps in the same way as our brain activity to find a way out of it. Healthy and environmental authorities have already warned the population years ago, but we seem to have not listened to a single word of what they said. People seem to ignore the facts and figures, and just keep busy with their own lives. But how can we call this life if it has been draining down because of our bad habits?

The future of our children can be even worse if nothing is changed, if nobody listens to the fact presented in the news everyday regarding our own protection. An action must be done now to save the later; following the principles established by the old say ‘better sooner than later’. We must do something now, but how? What? It does not need to be big actions as becoming scientists to close the enormous hole in the atmosphere. Little actions, inserted within our daily life can make the future a better place, can make the world change and stand still for the sons of our sons, and the days after our days.

The video on the top of this text gives you and me a well presented, simple but beautiful advice on how we can make that change. Planting a tree per day, water the plants, contribute to recycling by separating our rubbish will make indeed a huge contribution. Everyone can help; it is like Tesco’s motto “Every little helps”. If each of us can contribute daily to protect our own living environment, our future can have a future. Our planet will improve; will get healed off of all the wounds we have been causing.

Do your part, while I am doing mine. Do not buy plastic bags from supermarkets; bring your own paper or cotton bag. Do not throw your rubbish away around public spaces, which is why rubbish bins exist. Find the nearest bin to you and do what you have to do, or just carry the rubbish with you until you find a proper place to it. One simple and lovely action as the one in the video can make you and I feel better, allowing the planet to give it back, to thank us. Lets always bear in mind that what we give is what we receive. Thank you!

That is it for today, hope you can think about it, see you next time and take care!