Digital disruption has broken out of Silicon Valley. Any company, no matter how nuts-and-bolts, can be disrupted by a digital competitor; equally, any company could be that digital disruptor. The discussion was kick-started by two leading industry thinkers: Andrew Moore, chief transformation officer of chipmaking giant Intel, and Nigel Moulton, chief technology officer at Dell EMC, part of a corporation that services 99% of the Fortune 500 companies. Their remarks sparked lively discussion. Both Intel's Mr Moore and Dell EMC's Mr Moulton spend a lot of time talking to leading companies about their digital transformation journey, and they kicked off with a tough message: it's hard work.

Digital disruption has broken out of Silicon Valley. Any company, no matter how nuts-and-bolts, can be disrupted by a digital competitor; equally, any company could be that digital disruptor. The discussion was kick-started by two leading industry thinkers: Andrew Moore, chief transformation officer of chipmaking giant Intel, and Nigel Moulton, chief technology officer at Dell EMC, part of a corporation that services 99% of the Fortune 500 companies. Their remarks sparked lively discussion. Both Intel's Mr Moore and Dell EMC's Mr Moulton spend a lot of time talking to leading companies about their digital transformation journey, and they kicked off with a tough message: it's hard work.

It may be telling that one of the smash hit books of the past year has been on sleep. Berkeley professor of neuroscience Matthew Walker's Why We Sleep was a comprehensive analysis of why humans need to sleep, which doubled up as a polemic against the habits that lead to insomnia. He marvels: "A hundred years ago, less than 2 per cent of the population in the United States slept six hours or less a night. Now, almost 30 per cent of American adults do." The health implications are shocking. Lack of sleep leads to mental illness, diabetes and chaos.

Today, nearly 40 percent of students at U.S. colleges are age 25 or older. They often work at least part time to afford tuition and living costs, and many are juggling school and family responsibilities like caring for children. Time is a precious resource for them. These "nontraditional" students require flexibility so that they can accommodate all their responsibilities while pursuing their higher education. As the demand for more flexibility grows, so does the demand for online learning.

It may be telling that one of the smash hit books of the past year has been on sleep. Berkeley professor of neuroscience Matthew Walker's Why We Sleep was a comprehensive analysis of why humans need to sleep, which doubled up as a polemic against the habits that lead to insomnia. He marvels: "A hundred years ago, less than 2 per cent of the population in the United States slept six hours or less a night. Now, almost 30 per cent of American adults do." The health implications are shocking. Lack of sleep leads to mental illness, diabetes and chaos.