Discussion article for June 11th

What is the sharing economy?

The sharing economy takes advantage of connected mobile technology to allow people to rent things temporarily that they either don't need to own permanently or can't afford.

Everything from cars, central city parking spaces and designer clothes to accommodation are available from individuals and companies that are making billions from providing easy access to what people need in a difficult economy.

But it's not always about money. Some just want to conserve resources and save the planet – feeling that it's wasteful for everyone to own, say, a lawnmower – when you could just borrow one for a dollar.

Transactions can be made quickly through a cell phone app or a web site.

How does this work?

If you have a luxury car that you rarely drive or a designer dress that you seldom wear, you can make it available for others to view and rent via their cell phones, tablets or computers for a tiny fraction of their retail value. This creates a whole new class of small-time retailers and happy luxury consumers.

The idea is that at the touch of a few buttons, you could have a drop-dead outfit, a killer car and a penthouse apartment for the night -- affordably.

Companies have also got in on the act and provide everything from everyday cars for use by the hour to private chefs on demand in your own home.

Some car clubs and at least one major room rental company have spread to dozens of cities around the world.

What about the future?

The idea of non-ownership is spreading to things that we would normally keep for long periods of time. Solar panels are being rented rather than bought these days, for example.

The ease-of-use of mobile apps and payment technology amongst Shared Economy pioneers has led to them targeting the traditional business of others, such as package deliveries by logistics giants. Why shouldn’t it be as simple as touching a few buttons on your phone?

Companies are realising that rental relationships provide a gateway to brand loyalty with young technology-savvy people who will spread the word about their product. Renting a designer brand watch is a great way to get addicted to the idea of buying one once you can afford it. Which ever company gives you the easiest experience is likely to be the one to gain your business. Good mobile e-commerce technology is key. 

http://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2013/06/world/sharing-economy/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

Article for discussion on June 3rd

Space Invaders: Blast from the past that still inspires

By Elyse BettersTechnology reporter, New York

If you have ever played a video game, you are likely to have seen Taito's Space Invaders or one of its many derivatives.

It may seem prehistoric nowadays, but the title, which is about to celebrate its 35th birthday, has had a huge influence on gaming and the wider world.

It wasn't the first "schmup" - a term used to refer to old-school 2D-scrolling shooter titles. Missile Radar (1974) and Guided Missile (1977) preceded it.

But it did manage to tap into the zeitgeist in a way that others had not.

'Trial and error'

This was in large part because, the year before its release, Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind had stormed the movie box office, stoking the public's appetite for all things alien.

There was an element of luck that Space Invaders had an extraterrestrial theme.

Tomohiro Nishikado, the game's developer, had originally wanted the game to feature battling tanks or planes. But he switched theme after Taito banned the use of human targets.

"Space Invaders wasn't the result of a sudden flash of inspiration. The concept formed gradually," he tells the BBC.

"Brick-breaking games were very successful at the time, and I wanted to create a shooting game in a similar style. Space Invaders was the result of a great deal of trial and error."

Mr Nishikado was 34 when he designed Space Invaders' gameplay, artwork and sounds as a one-man project. He even built a customised computer to run the game.

"Space Invaders, like all microcomputer-based games of the time, was heavily impacted by hardware limitations and slow processing speeds, so development was a struggle," he says.

Fortunes turned

"The halting movement of the Space Invaders characters was the absolute best I could deliver, but it eventually grew on me."

Space Invaders was initially limited to Japan. It took a few months for mania to ensue, but before long players were standing in line for hours to get a chance to play.

Taito had trouble meeting demand for its arcade machines, and US company Midway spied an opportunity.

It licensed the title and in 1979 launched cabinets featuring the game in the US to great success.

The title also helped jump-start the console industry, which was in the doldrums.

'Revolutionary impact'

A glut of Pong clones - running versions of the bat-and-ball title - had swamped the market for home video games. Manufacturers had slashed prices in an effort to shift stock to the point where they were making losses. Several quit the sector after the crash.

Atari decided to stick it out and the company's fortunes turned when it released a version of Space Invaders in 1980 - the first official licence of an arcade game for a home console.

Space Invaders had a "revolutionary impact", Taito tells the BBC. "It helped lay the foundation for modern video games."

It remains the company's most popular title three-and-a-half decades on, with a thriving merchandise licensing business in addition to new games.

A rhythm-based spin-off, the Groove Coaster Arcade Edition, is being released this year to mark the anniversary.

The game "adjusts with the times", says Taito.

But despite the many updates, it's the original that is held in the highest esteem.

Guinness World Records named it the top-rated arcade game because of its technical, creative and cultural impact.

And the Museum of Modern Art in New York recently announced plans to acquire the game to join its permanent collection.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22738774?print=true

Article for discussion on June 3rd

Switzerland enforces new quotas for EU workers

Quotas on the number of EU citizens working in Switzerland have come into effect for one year.

Switzerland, which is not an EU member, says immigration has reached unacceptable levels, with foreigners making up a quarter of the population.

The Swiss have made a series of deals with the EU on the free movement of people in return for access to European markets.

The European Commission has warned that the quotas could jeopardise relations.

The vast majority of immigrants to Switzerland come from traditional EU members like Germany, Spain, Portugal and Italy.

Correspondents say Portuguese seeking work will be hardest hit by the new scheme.

'Safeguard clause'

The BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Geneva says on paper the Swiss have little to complain about.

They have a jobless rate of less than 3%, higher economic growth than expected and a strong currency, she says.

But there is concern in Switzerland about a growing influx of workers from poorer EU members.

A recent government statement said the number of people arriving in the country had exceeded the number leaving by up to 80,000 in recent years.

The Swiss government has come under pressure from both the right-wing People's Party and the Green Liberal Party, which say immigration has reached unsustainable levels.

The number of foreigners in Switzerland stands at almost 25%, many of them recent arrivals from EU countries where unemployment is at record levels, adds our correspondent.

Switzerland is determined not to share Europe's economic misery, she adds and while many Swiss accept their labour market needs foreign workers, they are unhappy about rising house prices or overcrowded schools.

The limits on the eight newer EU member states were first introduced last year.

From 1 June, immigrants from Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and the Czech Republic will have the number of long-term residence permits capped at 2,180.

From the same date, long-term residence permits for the 17 older EU states will be capped at 53,700 for 12 months.

Immigration to Switzerland from Bulgaria and Romania - the two newest EU states - is severely restricted.

When Switzerland signed up to freedom of movement rules in 1999, it claimed the right to enact a "safeguard clause" if the annual influx of workers exceeded a certain number.

From mid-2014 the clause becomes invalid, so the quotas can in theory only last for 12 months, but Switzerland is due to hold two referendums aimed at limiting immigration.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said last month the new quotas disregarded "the great benefits that the free movement of persons brings to the citizens of both Switzerland and the EU". 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22738774?print=true