Watching the 82nd Oscars I was struck by one inescapable conclusion, as I saw Tallaght-native Richard Baneham clutching his Oscar for best animation. Unless we invest heavily in the knowledge economy in Ireland, we’re going to be in even more serious trouble.
Baneham, Tom Moore and Darragh O’Connell have two things in common. They were all nominated for animation Oscars this year and they are all former pupils of Ballyfermot College.
Just over 30 years ago Ballyfermot College started as a vocational educational institution for a working class community in west Dublin, and now it is providing Oscar winning animators for Hollywood. How astonishing is that? If they stuck to teaching metal work courses would we be talking about them today?
Baneham’s Oscar success proves yet another point, that the future of our economy lies in knowledge. We need to forget about the skills that brought us the Celtic Tiger and create a whole new wave of businesses based on clever use of information.
When I took over the Irish Media Contacts Directory three years ago I bought four boxes of books and the title to a long-established book. If I was still just publishing that book I would have gone out of business a year ago. We package and sell information about the media, whether it is in a book, online or in training. We have transformed the business by injecting technology into it through our online Directory MediaDirect. How can you transform your business by injecting knowledge and technology into it? It won’t be easy, but it’ll be worth it.
Would an iPhone application fit with your business, could you move sales online? Could you deliver your service digitally in some way?
As my Dad often says “Time waits for no man”. Unless you are embracing the smart economy, you will be found out sooner rather than later. Mark my words.
Jack Murray
Tags: Awards, Film, Movies, Oscars
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