Where’s the software?!

Posted in Education software by T Shu on 23 September 2010

REFERENCE: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703860104575507873294920834.html

The following statement about new tablets from a recent Wall Street Journal article is staggering, because xThink builds strong software tools and is itching to build a lot more:

“Part of what’s driving this experimentation is the lack of strong software tools, she added, which is causing a lot of manufacturers to experiment with size and form factor in order to spur unique applications for their products.”

And notice that the author says that the manufacturers are relying on consumers to blaze the trail to the future. That’s right! Here’s a paraphrase of what they are saying above, “The manufacturers are building tablets in various sizes and shape, hoping that customers will really like one of the tablets and start using it in new ways.”

This brings to mind politicians who are ruled by opinion polls. “Leaders” who follow instead of leading. There are two problems with manufacturers who apply this approach:

Problem One: iPad is wildly successful by helping consumers do what they already do (iPhone and media consumption) better. Yes, the spurring of unique applications for iPad is coming, too, but that’s not the source of the wild success. So what makes manufacturers think that consumers will lead innovation?

Problem Two: Over the millennia, scientists and engineers (thinkers, designers, inventors, and developers) focused their minds on innovation. These manufacturers must be stunting their engineering staff into the role of mere construction workers, not the visionaries and architects that they can be. Where is the passion to use knowledge and skill to overcome Great Challenges that have led engineers time and again to miraculous triumphs?

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