The extreme popularity of books like The Da Vinci Code (a true page turner), The System of the World, Natural Capitalism [1], The Reformation, The World is Flat, The National Dream [2], and current events like the migration from the Gaza, got me thinking.  Quite a collage of thoughts! 

What do they all have in common?—Tectonic shifts—debated out in fact and fiction—the clash of ideals and ideas—the disruptive technologies and ideas of their times and our times.

My grandmother told me about all the children running across town to see their first car, and about everyone piling into the house with the first phone to hear the scratchy voice from a distant land.  This adventuresome young woman sailed the seas (actually she had no choice; they had to escape the pogroms!)…and later flew the planes, and enjoyed every minute of it!  And of course television!  She was not very interested in that—the content was, well, a bit superficial for her tastes!  Witnesses to the changing times!

We, also, are always thinking about new models, especially our globe trotting philosopher, Carla Reed.

So back to my grandmother; I asked her, could you see where this was all going? Not the technology, but the social changes, yes.  She was curious ‘till the end. We could expect not getting the whole vision spot-on from our grandmother, but you and I are expected to plan for the future. Ironically, some of the so-called futuristic get it wrong, like in this month’s Wired—flash back— then look forward ten years to now…you can see and feel something, but you don’t know where it is all going.

Well, modestly speaking, we think we have a view into the future.

That is why we have assembled some of the movers who are causing the tectonic shift (and have learned to master the intense cataclysmic shaking) in Banff in October. And let me assure you that, just as my grandmother emphasized, you’d better plan for a good future.  And the best way to do that is to join us for Parallax Views 2005.

In this issue we continue our exploration of RFID, looking at RFID Middleware and Supply Chain—strategies which are key issues in managing global chains.

Great minds think alike, so we have our guest columnists up to the task this month!

And finally, ever think about what’s happening with i2 and Manugistics? We do! So, we sent Sree Hameed to go talk to the new Chiefs of these domain leaders and see where they are headed. Following these interviews made Sree reflect on the supply chain journey thus far.

In parting, the big question with so many changes—economic changes, globalization, energy crisis and technology disruption is—what will you do?
I know what I am doing!

See you in Banff!