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In 1930 writer and cartoonist
Chester Gould imagined a world in which a hero detective named Dick Tracy
communicated via a two-way wrist radio, which later became a wrist TV.
It is not uncommon to find our future written by our past, as most science
fiction scholars will contend that the best science fiction predicts the
course of the future.
With that in mind, the Apple Smart Watch
should be coming out during the first quarter of 2015.
The gold vision justified, we in air cargo
can only cheer:
“Way to go, Dick Tracy!”
 We’re
swiftly being driven into the Dick Tracy era of wearable computing and
communication—that is, just as soon as Apple overcomes the challenge
of a woefully short battery life, as well as some other wrinkles.
In our industry, one can’t help but
imagine the coming hoopla that new Apple products inspire, the intense
marketing and excitement, as well as the legions of copycats and wannabes
that will be lining up to grab attention with similar products.
So thumbs up for air cargo and a wearable
computer, which, among other uses, will most certainly place emphasis
on products and services that cater to the health and fitness market.
Athletes, seniors, and the health conscious
around the world will jump at the opportunity to tap their wrist as often
as needed to diagnose their vital health signs.
We have no doubt air cargo will get a nice
bump from high tech innovation in the marketplace.
Right now while air cargo can look ahead
to ever brightening skies, it should also look back to a year ago, when
everybody from IATA to folks reading tea leaves predicted a flat year,
and possibly many more lackluster business years ahead.
It turns out we might need more science
fiction writers in air cargo, as that prediction has mostly proven untrue—the
price of oil and therefore kero has dropped significantly; a prolonged
west coast port slowdown in the U.S., the world's largest economy, continues;
and new products (especially in pharma and electronics, and in other high-tech,
air freightable commodities) are driving both excitement and predictions
for a more productive new year ahead.
“You betcha’, Dick Tracy!”
Geoffrey |
