The Outdoor Innovators of the Future

Our 2003 book  Invisible on Everest: Innovation and the Gear Makers and Gear Timezone,which has grown from it, are dedicated to ‘the next generation of innovators’ . So too is the innov_ex, Innovation Design Prize. When we set it up in … Continue reading

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Making technology social in the outdoor industry

A conference takes shape   2012 is Mike and I’s 10th conference and so we are making it particularly special. Planning for innov_ex 2012 began almost as soon as 2011 ended, so we could build on last year’s experience and … Continue reading

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Electronic footwear

  Emerging technologies and eSmart footwear We found ourselves a little challenged when we were told before last year’s conference ‘we have no idea what emerging technologies are and don’t think it is relevant to us’. We responded with a … Continue reading

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Blacks – the definitive 160 year history.

BLACKS - the definitive 160 year history.  On Friday 6th January 2012,  Blacks Leisure Group plc went into receivership and the viable assets ( several brands, amongst which Blacks, Peter Storm, Eurohike are the key ones) were purchased by JD Sports … Continue reading

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Wildest Dream reinforces Mallory 1924 Everest Myths

I looked forward to watching Wildest Dream: The Conquest of Everest and was captivated by the photography. The  mysteries around Mallory and Irvine’s fated 1924 Everest attempt always fascinate and I enjoyed watching Leo Holding and Conrad Anker on the … Continue reading

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Social media and the Coffee House Culture

Charles Leadbeater likens  Facebook to eighteenth century London coffee houses where news, gossip, business intelligence and rumour spread rapidly and inexorably through London’s square mile. From the seventeenth century the Coffee Houses, which were set up to drink exotic imports … Continue reading

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IEED – 2011 Innovation report # 2

IEED – 2011 INNOVATION REPORT #2 Google plus  and social sites overview (# 3 follows and will review cloud computing which is closely linked.) See # 1 for discussion of Google + Collaborative and Social media overview, putting  Google + … Continue reading

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Keeping dry # 1

Mike’s Mountain Marathon blog. Keeping dry #1 KEEPING DRY on the TGO-Challenge 2011 KEEPING DRY – backpacking across Scotland – TGOC #1 report on protecting pack and contents. Here is a short gallery of our first 4 days pictures There … Continue reading

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IEED Innovation report # 1 – Google plus project

IEED – 2011 INNOVATION REPORT #1 Google + project and social sites overview (# 2 will be social overview # 3 will review cloud computing which is closely linked.) Today is an appropriate date to blog about social media and … Continue reading

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Emerging Technologies : What and Why?

Emerging Technologies : What they are and why they matter ? What is a technology? It can be as simple as a stone axe or as complex as a nuclear power plant, but its still technology. It also includes things … Continue reading

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