Technology and The Future, Who's In Control?
Technology significantly shapes the way we live today, and is no less of a significant
influence than religion or government for determining how we will live tomorrow. The
interesting aspect about the influence of technology is that it is controlled by a much
larger group of "leaders" than religion or government. These "leaders" include both
individuals and businesses, together known as the consumer. The consumer controls what
will be on the market by making the demand for it. Any computer software store holds the
evidence which makes that demand a reality. The evidence is the overwhelming amount of
IBM software compared to Macintosh software. The reason for this ever-increasing gap of
products available for an IBM-compatible computer and those available for a Macintosh is
that the consumer demands software for the IBM, not the Macintosh. This example shows
how technology available in the future will be a direct result of the demands consumers
put on the computer companies today. The two demands which will have the most impact on
what will be produced are the needs for affordability and for a user-friendly product.
Consumers want a product at an affordable price, whether it is for at home or for their
business. However, new technology, especially in the area of computers, is usually not
affordable. The consumer has the power to make it affordable, by demanding that product.
For example, a personal computer ten years ago sold for about $3,000.00. Now, because
of the demand consumers have made in the last ten years, a new personal computer can be
purchased for around $1200.00. Consumers also have the choice to buy a used PC, in which
case they will pay around $600.00 - $800.00.
The reason this drop in cost has occurred has to do with supply and demand. Supply and
demand has a large influence on the prices of products that use new technology. Computer
companies wouldn't make, or supply, thousands of personal computers until a demand was
made. Through the late 1980's and early 1990's the demand was heard by the computer
companies, and personal computers went into mass-production. It seems pretty simple.
The consumer makes a demand, and the PC goes into mass-production. One step is missing
though. There has to be a reason behind the consumer's demands. Something had to happen
to spark the interest of millions of people around the world. This "something" was the
computer companies made the PC easy to use. They made the software easy to use, which
made the computer a convenience to many consumers. Consumers began to create documents
using the word processing software available instead of a typewriter, keeping inventory
on a spreadsheet instead manually in hard-to-read ledgers, and playing Pac-Man for free
instead of paying a quarter at the arcade. All of this was promoted and sold using the
phrase "user-friendly".
A "user-friendly" product is one that any average consumer could load onto their
computer and use, without being required to read a 200 page manual first! Businesses
look for user-friendly products especially. It's true that the average consumer of
software packages desires an easy-to-use program, but when a business invests in new
technology, they are also investing in the training of the employees who will have to use
it. If it is not user-friendly, the cost of this training may double in both time and
money. Microsoft Word for Windows is an excellent example of a user-friendly
application. The prompts on the status line and the icons that give explanations of
their duties are two ways that Word helps beginners understand how the program works.
Most businesses would prefer for the technology to do the training. It saves them money
and frustration. Software companies know that a pleased individual or business is more
likely to welcome future technological advances than a frustrated one.
The demands for affordable and user-friendly products that we as the consumer put on
computer companies today will have a direct result on the technology of the future. The
software industry's commitment to providing products that the we ask for leaves the
consumer in control of technology in future years.
|