Blockchain

Our new podcast, “Think About This with Shelly Palmer & Ross Martin” premieres today on the Westwood One Podcast Network. Subscribe at Apple Podcasts or literally anywhere podcasts can be found. The official press release says, “Hosted by visionary business adviser Shelly Palmer and Blackbird CEO Ross Martin, this podcast will challenge you to think Continue Reading →

If Libra and Calibra are successful, Facebook will have control of information (Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram), weaponized information (a virtual military), and currency (Libra). I’m pretty sure that makes Facebook the largest government on earth. Continue Reading →

I’ve been at SXSW (one of my favorite annual gatherings) for about 24 hours and my head is about to explode. While there are incredible experiences to be had here and there is some amazing tech on display, Buzzword BS is at record levels. Here are just a few excerpts from the dozens of elevator pitches I listened to today. Continue Reading →

Recent studies predict that by 2025 there may be as many as 100 billion IoT devices deployed worldwide. That’s roughly 14 connected devices or sensors for every person on Earth. My good friend Rob Mesirow and I have been spending a lot of time talking about the most practical ways to integrate “smart” technology into business processes. Continue Reading →

At the last ShellyPalmer Innovation Series Breakfast at CES, I had a Socratic discussion about the influence of the big technology platforms and other emerging technologies on our lives and the need for responsible innovation with David Sapin, US Risk & Regulatory Leader, PwC. Then the Facebook/Cambridge Analytica news broke. Since then, our thinking has evolved. Continue Reading →

Apple is now a trillion-dollar company. Better-than-expected iPhone sales have propelled the company to be wealthier than all but the 15 richest companies in the world, and only the second company (following PetroChina, an oil and gas company) to reach that valuation. But wait, there’s one more thing ... Continue Reading →

Blockchain is well-known for being Bitcoin’s underlying technology, but many believe blockchain has the power to radically transform whole industries. Here are six non-cryptocurrency blockchain (distributed ledger) use cases to help you form your own opinion. Continue Reading →

While Bitcoin (₿) is the most famous cryptocurrency, it is only one of approximately 2,000 cryptocurrencies in circulation today. All of the heavily traded cryptocurrencies are powered by some version of a distributed ledger (blockchain), and each has at least one unique attribute that differentiates it. Here's an overview of 5 popular cryptocurrencies and how they compare to Bitcoin. Continue Reading →

A smart contract is just like an old-fashioned verbal or paper contract except with a smart contract, the conditions can be met digitally. Smart contracts are not new, but they are newly relevant (and a bit overhyped) because they are an awesome, non-cryptocurrency use of blockchain technology. Continue Reading →

This past week, the NRA and advocates for gun safety and common sense gun laws found common ground: background checks. According to both sides, gun purchasers should be subjected to rigorous background checks. This is an excellent starting point for a constructive and productive dialogue. Continue Reading →