Interview with Mark Giesbers (VP Marketing UPC Nederland). Taken from the book “Breakthrough”, special edition for TEDxAmsterdam 2009.
“Inspiration lies very close to innovation; a vision connects the two. Within UPC we work on innovation closely with our partners. It is a matter of inspiring each other: new business models, new technologies and their practical implementation. The end goal is to create a fun and effective solution for our customers. UPC believes the digital world should be for everyone. We want to take people into the digital world without inhibitions and despite lack of knowledge. Inspiration plays an important role here as well.
How do you make the most of innovation and technology in such a way that people can take this step? For instance, we try to make the step towards TEDxAmsterdam as small as possible. UPC is providing TEDxAmsterdam with internet access and is looking into ways of using our platforms, such as our Video on Demand service, to share the ideas TED yields.
I believe TED speakers are a collection of smart, exceptional, out of the box thinking people that show us that it is possible to inspire millions of people by telling a story or sharing an idea or vision. I find it incredibly powerful that the speakers share their TEDTalk in a maximum of 18 minutes and are still able to baffle us.
If I were to speak at TED, I would share my ideas about the parallels between improv theatre and the corporate world. The principles that are taught for improv theatre can be enormously inspiring for the business world. One of the basic principles in improv is: take a suggestion and expand upon it – never block or deny. This principle brings so much energy into an office environment, you can really get things done!
Tip: Dare to dream and dare to share
The blind and visually impaired depend on audible information. For them the contribution and distribution of audio is essential in order to be in touch with the outside world. The Webbox gives the visually impaired the opportunity to listen online to audio books, newspapers, magazines, radio plays and TV subtitles. Although one can listen to the internet nowadays, to do so you need to operate a PC. The Webbox is a user-friendly, stand-alone device, through which one can listen to online content without the use of a PC.
The fact that they need the internet to operate this box, is quite often a barrier for this group of people. Normally they don’t need the internet, the installation as well as the costs are a barrier. In line with our vision, “Simply for everyone” and our CSR policy aimed at digital inclusion, UPC decided to help this group of people to get access to and benefit from the digital world. UPC will provide a tailored, very limited internet product for those people that will be of exclusive use for the Webbox at an affordable price for them.”
Credits
Text: Tessa Stolze
Translation: Ferhaan Kajee
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