There was a lot of discussion about my previous posts here and here. My point is that the internet is a stable platform. Its a utility. Its evolved to the point where you can count on it and develop applications for it without much fear that its going to change.
What confirms my point is that with all the talk of a possible or existing recession, not a single mention is ever made about how increases in productivity from technology will pull us through. That is counter to the recessions of the past 25 years. Whether it was the early 80s, the 90's or even the post bubble , economists and others pointed to technology as a catalyst to productivity that would help pull us out of our economic doldrums.
When there were boomtimes , as we saw from about 91 to 2000, technology was given the lions' share of the credit.
So where are the claims of further productivity enhancements from technology ? They are no where that I can find.
In fact, we can start to make arguments to the contrary. That technology and in particular social network and video sites can be a hindrance to productivity in the workplace.
Further arguments can be made that the MSFT YHOO potential merger is further evidence that the technology industry is maturing.
It is what it is.
The Internet is Officially Dead & Boring - Its the economy stupid !
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Reader Comments
(Page 2)23. I can't see how being connected is a hindrance, you know for the average person just being able to read these kind of blogs is productive. If only you knew where I am responding from, and the economic conditions here, you would not think the internet is boring. It is amatter of perspective or frame of reference.!!!
Posted at 1:14PM on Feb 12th 2008 by Phil Salzman
24. The argument that sites like YouTube and MySpace are responsible for decreasing productivity in the work place, and in some way are responsible for the recession, is beyond moronic. The tech bubble of the late 90's was predicated on more and more technology. Technology was what was stimulating the marketplace (obviously too much of a good thing isn't always favorable, as was the case with the bubble).
Advancements in tech sectors such as software and networking (as in the Cisco kind, not the Facebook kind) have exorbitantly increased the productivity at work. Most firms cannot function without this technology.
Things like YouTube and Myspace have always been around to distract individuals. But I've never heard of any company boycotting Poland Spring because all the time wasted at the water cooler was detrimental to overall productivity.
25. Sorry Mark,
Maybe from where you're sitting on Billionairs Olympus it looks like the Internet is dead and technology won't pull us through as it did in the past. However, it's the best of times right now!
Back in the 70's and 80's when the Big Iron world pretty much ruled the roost, the same thing was being said at that time! And then what happened? Grass root opportunities started popping all over the place like it's starting now!
Maybe you're looking at the comfortable infrastructure and watching it fossilize! Web 2.0/3.0 tech is coming up and you better get this party started otherwise you'll miss the next BOOM as the Big Iron companies such as DEC and IBM did in 1991! I know, I was there!
What many are missing is that the model has shifted yet again! You'll have to look for your cheese in a new technological location!
One big word to focus upon is Community! As in Community Programming as well as "Through the Web Programming" and "Enterprise Rapid Development Frameworks (eRDF)."
If you're still trying to pump out a project with Java then the train has already left you behind!
Start looking at technologies such as Joomla and Drupal. Look at Ruby on Rails! The days are gone for grunt level projects where a gaggle of Klingon wanna-bees, slam code for 6 to 9 months because it is in no way efficient!
If you can't sit down the first day, and have a website with configurable widgets that you drag and drop into place talking to your database, YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG PRINCESS!
So, Dead? I don't think so! Look where the cheese has moved and you'll find a ground swell of the next boom!
Seeya at the top! ;)
Mike
Posted at 11:09PM on Feb 12th 2008 by Mike Addison
26. The internet is definitely alive & well. As for tech, the future looks bright.
http://www.teslamotors.com/
http://www.fiskerautomotive.com/
Posted at 2:10AM on Feb 13th 2008 by darryl
27. This is off topic, but have you read the March "Men's Journal?" There's an article about Ultimate Fighting and Dana White essentially calls you out. He says if you want HDNet Fights to compete with UFC you better stop dancing with the stars. I'd like to hear your response to that knucklehead.
Posted at 11:30AM on Feb 13th 2008 by David
28. Mark,
I know you probably won't do this. In fact you may already have!
But you've been tagged over at my blog.
Posted at 12:45PM on Feb 13th 2008 by Ryan Holmes
21. The internet has obviously become a platform. No question about it. What interests me the most about it is what will MicroSoft do 20 years from now to make money? As open source grows and grows eventually everyone will realize that we don't need high priced software like windows, and office. Mark I would like to read your thoughts perhaps in a future post about what you think the future of open source platforms will bring.
ps. how funny was the Steve Ballmer article mentioning free soda (if you missed it)
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/microsoft/archives/131418.asp
And also a very disturbing but very funny video of Steve Ballmer that is a must see from 2005:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nc4MzqBFxZE
Posted at 3:32AM on Feb 12th 2008 by Adam Pritchard