Take the Blue Pill, Neo
New technology offers incredible advances for financial markets, with caveats.
![james-rundle-waters james-rundle-waters](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_750_463/public/import/IMG/283/261283/james-rundle-waters.jpg.webp?h=4a6b0616&itok=EjSrsvc6)
Whereas Google Glass fell flat, it seems that Satya Nadella has finally cracked the augmented reality (AR) problem, and in the process, sent television manufacturers into early graves.
What benefits could this have for traders? Just imagine the possibilities. One of the biggest complaints I always hear from desk heads is the real estate issue, or the availability of physical space on screens and desks for more applications, more screens, more functionality.
HoloLens and its ilk potentially offer a solution to that. In the same way that we are now virtualizing computers (and datacenters), can the desk be virtualized, too? It seems likely.
Of course, it's a bit Jonny Quest. Imagine turning up for work, and instead of sitting next to your colleagues, leaning across to chat to them, engaging in rapid-fire discussions, you're just chatting through a virtual interface. A bit sterile, no?
But that is, Marty, the future. No longer will we be slaves to inefficient biological processes. Now literally everything can be monitored and timestamped, as it's all technological. Even watercooler discussions.
I'm being hyperbolic, of course. HoloLens actually has incredible potential for all industries, from design through to trading. Except, maybe, the media, where it just becomes another vector for the death of the print magazine and the supremacy of online.
Just imagine bringing up your OMS by swiping the air. Or your blotter on your desktop, next to your keyboard. Assuming you even have a keyboard, which you probably won't, as that'll be virtualized too. In fact, forget the open-plan office ─ all you need is a blank wall. Cubicle culture takes a new, sinister turn in its ongoing quest toward de-individualization.
But it definitely is the right track for AR, more so than clunky Oculus Rift-style helmets, or the ill-fated Google Glass project, which makes public nuisances of even the most innocent user.
Finally, as I said a few weeks ago, this will be my last Editor's Letter for Sell-Side Technology. Thanks for reading over the past few years, for your tweets and your e-mails. Yes, even the negative ones. I'll be handing over this weekly missive to my US editor, Anthony Malakian as of today.
Only users who have a paid subscription or are part of a corporate subscription are able to print or copy content.
To access these options, along with all other subscription benefits, please contact info@waterstechnology.com or view our subscription options here: http://subscriptions.waterstechnology.com/subscribe
You are currently unable to print this content. Please contact info@waterstechnology.com to find out more.
You are currently unable to copy this content. Please contact info@waterstechnology.com to find out more.
Copyright Infopro Digital Limited. All rights reserved.
As outlined in our terms and conditions, https://www.infopro-digital.com/terms-and-conditions/subscriptions/ (point 2.4), printing is limited to a single copy.
If you would like to purchase additional rights please email info@waterstechnology.com
Copyright Infopro Digital Limited. All rights reserved.
You may share this content using our article tools. As outlined in our terms and conditions, https://www.infopro-digital.com/terms-and-conditions/subscriptions/ (clause 2.4), an Authorised User may only make one copy of the materials for their own personal use. You must also comply with the restrictions in clause 2.5.
If you would like to purchase additional rights please email info@waterstechnology.com
More on Trading Tech
This Week: ISI buys EPFR; Bloomberg, Warsaw Exchange, Fenergo and more
A summary of the latest financial technology news
US Supreme Court clips SEC’s wings with recent rulings
The Supreme Court made a host of decisions at the start of July that spell trouble for regulators—including the SEC.
TMX’s indexing pivot bears first fruit
The acquisition of index provider VettaFi has boosted revenues in the exchange’s analytics division, but further growth could mean taking on the heavyweight data providers like S&P, FTSE Russell, and MSCI.
Kimsey debuts ‘Who bought what’ dataset to help vendors target sales
Kimsey Consulting’s latest report breaks down reported industry spend by client type, product type, and geography to help suppliers and investors pinpoint future sources of demand.
Waters Wrap: After CrowdStrike crisis, will anyone learn?
Several bank and hedge fund sources tell Anthony that while there’s plenty to be learned from the CrowdStrike bug, some will more than likely forget those lessons in a few weeks’ time.
This Week: FCA, Plato/Turquoise, Franklin Templeton, and more
A summary of the latest financial technology news.
CME: CFTC OKs clearing move to Google Cloud
The CFTC has given the Chicago-based exchange approval to run its clearing and settlement infrastructure on the Google Cloud Platform, while the exchange and vendor have extended their partnership to last until at least 2037.
JP Morgan touts DLT, tokens for collateral management
Distributed-ledger technology could make moving non-cash collateral more efficient, said managing director Toks Oyebode during an Isda conference on Thursday.