Let’s get Phygital
No, it’s not a typo – “phygital” is a fairly recent buzzword that incorporates the perfect blend of physical and digital experiences. I first read about it in this article and I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately.
In essence, phygital embraces the technologies that are blurring the lines between digital and physical worlds, sometimes quite literally as is case with emerging technologies in artificial reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR).
I’m curious about how innovation will affect our daily realities in the near future, and how we can use it to create better experiences for our customers. For example, Intel is already working on 5G wireless technology, which will allow us to connect to more than 1000x the number of devices per square kilometre that 4G allows. Imagine what this could mean for smart technology and the Internet of Things.
Likewise, how will technology change the way we communicate with each other? What will collaboration and meetings look like when we mix physical and digital realities? And how can we protect our privacy when everything is connected? I enjoyed this article, which explores some of these ideas.
For me “phygital” speaks directly to Kyocera’s philosophy and I believe there’s no better time than now to “set new targets above the level of our present abilities. Though the target may seem unattainable with our present abilities, we must focus on that point in the future, by which time we will be able to achieve the goal.”
As leaders in innovation, it’s our responsibility to examine the areas of technology that make us feel uncomfortable. We need to consider the full range of opportunity that technology can provide and design holistic solutions for our customers. It’s time to “get phygital”.
Ian Dury - Business Process Manager - KYOCERA Document Solutions South Africa
