Well… this week has been a bit of a rollercoaster of emotions.
I won’t go into the reasons why… just a variety of things going on. A lot which, I’ve been slightly disappointed with…but you know what, it’s me who’s in control of my destiny.
Flybe has collapsed. All future flights on the Exeter-based airline have been cancelled – leaving more than 2,300 staff facing an uncertain future, and wrecking the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of passengers.
The official announcement was made just after 3am​. But it had been clear from late on Wednesday that the airline was going out of business
The Exeter-based airline was bought a year ago by a consortium headed by Virgin Atlantic, and involving Stobart Group and the US hedge fund Cyrus Capital.
The owners put in at least £100m to keep Flybe afloat, but it was making such heavy losses that the money soon ran out.
While the coronavirus crisis will be blamed for hastening the demise of Flybe, the airline has been struggling for a while.
Why has it been struggling Bal?
Number of reasons – there’s alot of competition… alternative transport methods/routes, the digital world and not being prepared for headwinds (no pun intended)… such as this CoronaVirus. Many companies are prepared… well prepared, for such issues and problems. But take a look at Monarch… Thomas Cook…. Fly BMI…. all who have gone out of business. You have to look at their business models… how they operated and why they went out of business.
Some were late to the Digital way of thinking – especially Thomas Cook, whom I wrote about a while back.
You could argue… if coronavirus didn’t happen, would FlyBe still be operational… yes. But for how long?
In a recent survey, 71 percent of those surveyed said that they didn’t feel they received enough information about in-car tech when they took delivery, while a quarter said that they didn’t get enough information at all.
Admittedly – over the past few years, there’s been alot of tech… and I mean alot… appearing in our cars!
From Self-driving features… to the Sat Nav letting you know a route that is either the quickest, most fuel efficient or cheapest (avoiding tolls).
In addition, the survey said – one fifth of drivers (20 percent) of drivers said they use less than half of the features in their cars, while a further 10% said they understood only some of the features and just drive their cars.
So what should you do?
Well, firstly… when you take delivery of your car (new) or purchase it (second-hand)… ask!
Ask about the main features, what the car has and what it can do. YouTube is always a good source of information about your car and it’s technology.
Go to the Dealer! – that’s another option. They now have experts who help individuals to understand their cars… this could include downloading an app (that controls features on your car), or other certain features your car may have.
Whilst the features grow… the screens get bigger…
… keeping up can be a task! So refer to the handbook, ask the dealership or phone a friend.
Don’t be afraid of the technology – it’s their to help and support you, to provide you with a better driving experience. And let’s be honest… it’s only going to get more technologically advanced when the cars can fully drive themselves!
On Friday – I was invited to BBC Radio Nottingham, to talk about Smart Homes and Electric Cars… (and all things Tech!)
As the local tech expert – I share my views on Electric cars… and I think everyone should consider at least a hybrid, as their next car… and then slowly edging closer to a full electric vehicle.
In addition – how to make your home Smart! It’s starts with the heart (a device), that connects to everything around your house and controls what needs to be done (like – turning on and off lights).
2 Things…
We should always be in ‘learning’ mode. Learning new things, developing new habits and ways of working, bettering ourselves and our communities.
Why? – Because the world is changing. Rapidly, due to technology, advancing… due to issues we are facing – we need to make changes to our lifestyles.
This applies both – in our personal life. And work life.
I’m always talking about how great Social Media is… how it’s fab to connect with people and build communities. How good it is to share stories, and the ability to join groups of folk who have similar interests.
There is also a ‘dark’ side. There’s some individuals who sit behind a computer or phone, and think it’s fine to criticize, to say ‘not nice’ things and continue to poke fun, ridicule and harass people.
My advise is – block them. Stay away from them. And don’t let the negativity get to you. Easier said than done. But have a network that can support you. And if you are experiencing such comments, make sure you highlight it, make sure you report it and make sure you stay away from them.
We often don’t know what people are going through.
On the weekend, Caroline Flack, 40, took her own life. She was a presenter, actor, dancer and much more. Unfortunately, a series of events took place recently in her life… put her in a ‘dark’ place.
Media didn’t help. Social Media didn’t help.
I can’t tell you what to do… what I can say is, please be kind to everyone because you don’t know where they are mentally.
Build communities. Build friendships.
Collaborate on ideas. Speak on the same topics of interest.
I know most people who read my blogs are educated enough to use social media in the right essence and how it gives the best results.
Please take care of yourself – and those around you. Be Kind.
A few weeks ago, I wrote about self driving cars – and how GM have invested heavily into them (in the US) and how they reminded me of the pods they have at Terminal 5 Heathrow parking.
I honestly do think – self driving cars will be the norm and will be coming very soon. What does that mean for you and me….?
Well… for the congested towns and city centres – it’ll be great. I don’t think they’ll be everywhere, because those who live in villages and outside the main cities… they’ll need their cars to get them places. But even then… most of those cars, will be able to self drive… through their connectivity (which I spoke about on Monday) and through the number of sensors they’ll have!
Waymo is a self driving car that’s currently being tested…
Do we need self driving cars, Bal?
Technically, no. But like everything – there’s so many positives to having this technology.
Tesla have the self driving feature.
Many other manufacturers have various forms of technology to aid the driver… but remember, no matter what feature you have, until we have the true self driving car – please do not attempt to read a book at the wheel…
Last week it was super cold! – but it’s ok… my car was nice and warm when I got to it…
How’s that, Bal?
Well… my car is connected. And through this connection, and via the app – I could select an option that heats the car! How. Awesome. Is. That?
More and more cars are becoming connected. Allowing options like heating, etc… a norm. I remember a few years ago, when I was in Atlanta, with my friend Wes… we jumped into his car (it is a mahoosive one!) and he pressed a button, went to a call centre… Wes then said he wanted to go somewhere… and the information (directions) were sent to his sat nav in the car and off we went!
Cars are clever. And becoming even more clever. There’s so much data that your car produces – and there’s so much your car learns about you… which will then give you the experience you’ll love!
Whilst cars become more clever… they’ll also be talking. Talking to dealerships. Talking to the manufacturers. Talking to those who sign up to get their hands on the data!… (insurance companies?)
We are living in a connected world. Look around you, everything is connected and there’s vast amounts of data being sent back and forth. Don’t forget, Data is the new Oil!…. and whilst I said this on stage at an event in Toronto last July…. it was non other than Sir Tim Berners Lee (inventor of the World Wide Web) who approached me afterwards and said… whilst data is the new oil, just remember… oil can’t be re-used, whilst data can.
This did get me thinking… wow! This means data is even more valuable than oil!
Back to connected cars – so this data, that your car is collecting about you, your driving, your destinations, your habits… will be stored by someone (manufacture maybe) and then sold to various companies…. now, the optimistic in me will say… being sold so my experience can be much better… the pessimistic will say… being sold so companies can make more money.
Either way… this is stage 1 of connected car. The next stage will be the self driving cars… with more data being transmitted…. through the connected car.
What is it you do on a daily basis? – because whatever it is… it’s building your future… and if you want a different future, you know what you got to change….
Ok…. who remembers the big bad boy motor, also known as the Hummer?
What a classic! That’s right – these beasts were massive!!! I don’t remember seeing too many on the British streets, well… let’s be honest… the streets are too small for a massive vehicle like this! But in the US and everywhere else (where they have larger streets) you could see them…
Now… as you can guess, they were heavy on the fuel… big and that’s about it! (You know you still wanted one!)
Times are changing… in my last blog post, I spoke about if you should get an electric car.
Couple of questions I got were – ‘….but Bal, I like the traditional big cars, with the big V8’s…’, and also, questions like… ‘Bal, I’d got for a hybrid or full electric if it didn’t look like a Prius!’.
I hear ya. I do… and so do General Motors (GM) – the makers of the Hummer…. and even they are embracing the electric car revolution!
That’s right – there’s going to be an ELECTRIC HUMMER!!!
Over on their website… they shared some impressive stats…
1,000 HORSEPOWER!!!
0-60 in 3 SECONDS!!!!
Oh MY!!!!!!
Personally, I can’t wait. And here’s your answer to a Prius!
So… still thinking if you should go electric? Definitely start thinking about it.
GM pulled out a commercial about the new Hummer…
But personally… still don’t think it’ll get down our British streets!