KEY TERMS AND DEVELOPMENTS

FUTURE-PROOFING

“Future-proofing” is the strategy of preparing for the future by developing solutions and systems to minimize disruption. Planning for climate change is one example. Very few things are truly future-proof, however. Cloud computing is sometimes said to be a future-proof industry, but while it gives the appearance of being both dynamic and stable, the reality is that teams of developers must work 24/7 to make sure the cloud is constantly secure — even if the end user never notices the updates. Being future-proof in any field depends on technology, a constant cycle of change is the new normal. Trying to make sure that a mousetrap is future-proof is practically impossible, because it’s sure to be replaced as soon as someone creates a better version.

VR FOR STEM

The Copenhagen-based start-up Labster builds virtual-reality laboratories for students of STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics. More than 150 universities and schools around the world use Labster’s VR labs, putting the software in the hands of 200,000 students, many of whom would otherwise never have access to expensive, high-tech labs for experiments in biology, chemistry, physics and engineering. The key is the company’s algorithms. “We combine these with gamification elements such as an immersive 3D universe, storytelling and a scoring system which stimulates students’ natural curiosity and highlights the connection between science and the real world,” Labster says. www.labster.com

THE NEXT BIG THING

Technology pundits often use the expression “the next big thing” when writing and talking about the latest trend or fad. When Harald Zapp decided to create an incubator for Internet of Things (IOT) and blockchain services in Berlin in 2016, he needed a name for it, so he called the business Next Big Thing. Zapp gets big things done and last year, he sold his IOT start-up Relayr to Munich Re for €300 million. So, what kind of jobs does Next Big Thing offer? “Venture Developer — Business (m/f/x)”, for example. This is a job for someone “who enjoys and excels at creating companies at the forefront of digital innovation”. The “(m/f/x)”, by the way, means “male, female or intersex”. www.nextbigthing.ag