Hall of Masters

Kevin Kelly

케빈 켈리

Founding executive editor of Wired, author of the essay 1,000 True Fans

1,832 records in all

  • Principles 683
  • Episodes 339
  • Quotes 810
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Episodes

51 basic records of 339

Episodes are real events from public sources, summarised by us.

  • Digitizing Home Movies

    Kevin Kelly spent a week digitizing his analog home movies, which immediately filled a 1 terabyte disc. This led him to realize how quickly personal data accumulates and to question how it will be preserved after his death.

    LessonPersonal data accumulation creates new needs for long-term storage and legacy management.

  • HyperCard vs The Web

    Kevin Kelly appeared in a news report discussing HyperCard during his youth. He observed that while HyperCard offered superior features, it ultimately lost its market position to the World Wide Web.

    LessonTechnical superiority is often less important than the network effects or openness of a competing standard.

  • 2008Brand

    Discovering the Poptimistic Concept

    Kevin Kelly encountered the word 'Poptimistic' during an interview with special effects guru John Gaeta. He realized it perfectly described the upbeat, technicolor future he saw in early Wired magazine and Burning Man.

    LessonFinding the right vocabulary to describe a brand's vibe helps clarify its identity and appeal to the audience.

  • The Library Search Experiment

    Researchers at the University of Michigan asked students to find answers in a library versus using Google. They found that using the library took 15 minutes longer on average per question.

    LessonTime saved is a direct measure of a product's economic value to the user.

  • The Book Launch Tour

    To promote his book, Kevin Kelly offered a one-hour talk to any group in the San Francisco Bay Area that purchased 25 copies. This allowed him to meet diverse organizations he otherwise would never have encountered.

    LessonCreative bundling of products and services can open doors to unexpected networking opportunities.

  • Discovering Jesse Schell's Vision

    Kevin Kelly watched a talk by game designer Jesse Schell about the future of gamification. He found the ideas so dense and transformative that he watched it multiple times to fully grasp the implications for the economy and daily life.

    LessonFounders should seek out 'mind-changing' content that challenges their assumptions about how their industry works.

  • Analyzing Speed Racer's Visual Innovation

    Kevin Kelly watched the newly released Speed Racer and identified it as a prime example of a 'painted film.' He noted that while the story was weak, the movie pioneered a new method of making moving images by manipulating photographic layers.

    LessonA product's value can lie in its technical or medium-based innovation even if its traditional elements, like storytelling, are simple.

  • Discovering DALL-E

    Kevin Kelly observed the first draft of an algorithm that creates images from text prompts. He noted that while it wasn't perfect, it demonstrated the rapid evolution of AI capabilities.

    LessonEarly adoption and observation of emerging tech tools allow founders to anticipate future industry shifts.

  • BGI's Youthful Leadership

    The Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI) utilized 128 high-end sequencing machines to outpace all U.S. academic facilities. The bioinformatics department was led by a 24-year-old college dropout who managed 1,500 computer scientists.

    LessonDo not underestimate young talent; they can manage massive scale if given the responsibility.

  • Adobe's Software Servicization

    Adobe stopped selling discrete software versions like Photoshop as products. They moved to a subscription model where users always have the latest version as long as they pay monthly.

    LessonMoving to a service model ensures a constant relationship and recurring revenue from the customer.

  • The Curation of Supercuts

    Andy Baio recognized the emerging 'supercut' video genre and created a dedicated site to archive and categorize them. He used Amazon Turk researchers to analyze the attributes of these videos, finding that the average supercut has 82 cuts.

    LessonEarly identification and systematic analysis of a new trend can establish you as a leading authority in that niche.

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