Innovation, Technology and Politics: Who has a Technology Platform
In discussing Innovation and Information Technologies the other day with the Founder of Technology think tank, it occurred to me that we have a "branding" problem with IT and in general Technology.
The fact is that the major economic expansions are driven by innovations in technology. Witness the 90's boom. While it led to a crash, it nevertheless created immense wealth for many.
This fact however, does not seem to be known by the populace. Why? I theorize that it is because people have a hard time "connecting" the benefits of technology with their daily lives and their jobs. It is an imperative that we do a better job of making these connections for our customers. Apple is a great example of a "technology company" that has figured out (for now) how to translate technology into customer experience, i e., where technology meets the road, if I can borrow and change a known aphorism .
The more important point here is the following:
If we do a better job of "branding" technology and the benefits of it to the populace- just maybe- we will be able to elevate its political profile and - just maybe - people would be more concerned about its impact on our economic survival.
Job creation is quickly becoming a continuum; with new, hi tech jobs originating at one end and these same jobs dissipating into India's outsourcing infrastructure and China's factories. This is a fact that cannot be denied.
Therefore, we need technology to create the next wave of jobs that can lead to economic expansion and Innovation is a large part of this process. Everyone in Innovation is saying this; from economists to venture capitalists, to those running businesses.
So, given that we are in an election year, which candidate has a written and structured Innovation and technology platform?
On this count Obama is the winner.
In a recent analysis done by a technology consultancy, McCain's "platform" was non-existent and had to be derived from "inferences" from his record.
Please remember these facts when you are the voting booth this November.
The fact is that the major economic expansions are driven by innovations in technology. Witness the 90's boom. While it led to a crash, it nevertheless created immense wealth for many.
This fact however, does not seem to be known by the populace. Why? I theorize that it is because people have a hard time "connecting" the benefits of technology with their daily lives and their jobs. It is an imperative that we do a better job of making these connections for our customers. Apple is a great example of a "technology company" that has figured out (for now) how to translate technology into customer experience, i e., where technology meets the road, if I can borrow and change a known aphorism .
The more important point here is the following:
If we do a better job of "branding" technology and the benefits of it to the populace- just maybe- we will be able to elevate its political profile and - just maybe - people would be more concerned about its impact on our economic survival.
Job creation is quickly becoming a continuum; with new, hi tech jobs originating at one end and these same jobs dissipating into India's outsourcing infrastructure and China's factories. This is a fact that cannot be denied.
Therefore, we need technology to create the next wave of jobs that can lead to economic expansion and Innovation is a large part of this process. Everyone in Innovation is saying this; from economists to venture capitalists, to those running businesses.
So, given that we are in an election year, which candidate has a written and structured Innovation and technology platform?
On this count Obama is the winner.
In a recent analysis done by a technology consultancy, McCain's "platform" was non-existent and had to be derived from "inferences" from his record.
Please remember these facts when you are the voting booth this November.
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