Tech Industry is out of Ideas. It is objectively obvious that tech companies need to continuously invent new things to sell you. Do you need those new things? Probably not. Have you ever had a serious negative surprise when you turned on your phone or computer and were confused and annoyed to find that it had changed? That is because you received an “auto update” to your operating system. Reactions range from annoyance, at being forced to re-learn how to use what you already know how to use, to rage, at finding that your data was erased during the “upgrade”.
In reality what we are using now in terms of cell phones/devices has a sufficiency of all necessary resources. Informally speaking, in daily use at home and at the office, computers are not limited by main memory (RAM), secondary storage space (disk/SSD), communications speed, or screen size anymore.
Regarding Screens: Computer monitors around 24 inches diagonal strike a practical balance between size, usability, and cost. Any screen over 27 inches diagonal is too large to see without moving your head around. Manufacturers do make larger screens for specific purposes, like gaming, and coding. Some large screens are curved and some can be swiveled vertically, but they are high priced specialty items that do not appeal to the average consumer. A 24 inch monitor can be had for $100. Is it worth 2-10 times the cost for a few extra inches of screen?
Regarding phones: is larger better? It turns out that approximately 6 inches diagonal is both small enough to put in your pocket, yet large enough to read text, and use with one hand. Some people, many women for instance, prefer smaller screens, for the simple reason that they have smaller hands. Many current Apple phones are smaller than 6 inches, and are quite usable and popular. Samsung now has phones that fold, but it’s unclear whether anyone wants them or whether they will become popular, especially at twice the price.
Regarding broadband speed: Unless you are testing raw speed, it is doubtful you would be able to notice any difference between 3G, LTE, and 5G networks. It’s not that there is no difference, but in regular “in the field” use, speed differences are nearly imperceptible. Most people don’t know which network technology they are on, what the differences are, or how much they are paying for it. It follows that if you don’t notice a difference, you would not be bothered to find out any further information.
Some technologies fail: Amazon recently announced large scale layoffs and the Alexa voice assistant division is expected to be hit hard. Amazon’s self reporting claims that they have lost $10 Billion on Alexa. It turns out that voice control of computing resources is both hard to implement and awkward to use. Very few kind words have ever been spoken about Alexa, mostly by the people who actually paid for it. In the end, many people consider using a screen or keyboard to be more familiar and easier to use. It turns out voice control of computers just isn’t as good as anyone imagined.
Other conspicuous failures: The COVID-19 pandemic put many previously unchallenged assumptions to the test. The idea that computer based teaching/learning was unquestionably the future of education turned out to be a hard fail. Objective testing shows that K-12 test scores across all subjects took a sharp downturn. It turns out there are measurable and tangible benefits of socializing and face-to-face instruction in the school setting. One of the main beneficiaries of the uptick in distance learning, Zoom Video Communications, reflects that sentiment with their stock price currently down 90% down from the peak.
The industry is out of ideas: These are all examples of how we have a sufficiency of technology resources. There are no more obvious innovations in terms of device form factors, user interfaces, speed, or capacity. You have what you need, and the tech companies know that. They now need to invent new ideas to make you feel like there is a reason to spend your money. What are these new ideas?
What is in the new products? Technology is now fully based on the surveillance business model. For instance what is the functional difference between Windows 10 and Windows 11? For you, there is no difference. The same programs run on both. So why should you pay Microsoft again for what you already have? For Microsoft, they are tightening their grip on you and your data. Any new code in the operating system is to implement or refine their data gathering reach. Why should you pay them in order for them to peer deeper into your life and gather even more data?
This pattern of forced upgrades and changing functionality unnecessarily is playing out across most technology products today, 2022.