Ajit Jaokar is the founder of the London based research company futuretext. futuretext specialises in identifying and researching cross-domain technology trends. Currently, Futuretext’s areas of research include: Smart cities, Open systems including ‘White space’ networks, Digital policy and the Mobile web.

His latest startup is feynlabs – Concepts of Programming Languages

In 2009, Ajit was nominated to the World Economic Forum’s ‘Future of the Internet’ council. In 2011, he was nominated to the World Smart Capital program – which is based on Smart cities  in Amsterdam.  Ajit  moderates/chairOxford University’s Next generation mobile applications panel and conduct courses at Oxford mainly in the next generation Telecoms domain.   He has written a number of books which include Open Mobile, Social Media Marketing, Mobile Web 2.0 and Open Gardens.

His consulting activities through futuretext include working with companies to define value propositions across the ‘converged stack’ incorporating devices, networks, the Web, the Cloud and Social networking. Ajit has worked with a range of commercial and government organizations including The European Union, Telecoms Operators, Device manufacturers, social networking companies and security companies in various strategic and visionary roles

Since May 2005, he has founded and run the OpenGardens blog which is widely respected in the mobile/telecoms industry. The OpenGardens blog has covered the convergence of Telecoms and the Web and it’s disruptive impact on their value chains.   Over the years, his work has been covered in media like the BBC newsnight, CNN Money, BBC Digital planet, Robert Scoble’s podcast and others.

Ajit has spoken at many conferences which include MobileWorld Congress(2011, 2009, 2008, 2007); CTIA (2011, 2010, 2009, 2008) CEBIT 2009; O Reilly Web20 expo (April 2007);Keynote at Java One; European Parliament – Brussels – (European Internet Foundation); Stanford University’s Digital visions program; MIT Sloan; Fraunhofer FOKUS ; University of St. Gallen (Switzerland) and various Informa conferences on Telecoms.

Ajit is still involved in detailed, hands-on projects. Over the last year, he has been an active part of the EU funded research project called Webinos. Webios is an EU funded project aiming to deliver a platform for web applications across mobile, PC, home media (TV) and in-car devices. Webinos uses Open source. Ajit has a deep understanding of Open source and Open standards and their interplay across platforms. He recognises that the terms ‘Open Source’ and ‘Open Standards’ are polymorphic (i.e. have varying meanings according to context). Nevertheless, his view leans towards Open systems both for technology and for humanity and to an inclusive technological ecosystem

Ajit is studying for his PhD at UCL (part time). This research involves working with White space spectrum and applications like healthcare and rural broadband

Ajit believes that diversity reduces risks and increases insights. He has used this principle in his thinking, writing and in the creation of the Policy bloggers network.

Ajit lives in London, UK and is a British citizen. He  was born in India and  also has New Zealand nationality. Ajit’s personal ethos leans to being a humanist and a libertarian.  Ajit is a fan of animation especially Tom and Jerry, Tintin and Asterix and likes the music of ZZ Top and other rock bands

A list of his most influential books in 2012 is – Books and documentaries that have influenced me in 2012