Every day we are inundated with news reports, advertisements,
technical reports, etc., lauding how some product or gadget, or another,
is a must - have, greatest thing ever product. We are often told we need
the newest and latest, and that it can do things we previously didn't
even realize that we needed. However, have you ever wondered why each of
these newest and latest crazes is generally rather quickly replaced by
the newer and better newest and latest phenomenon?
1. Mobile cell technology is a great example. The other day I thought about how many different mobile devices I have owned. My first mobile telephone weighed quite a bit, and could best be described as a phone in a bag. It worked on analog technology, and was exactly as described, a mobile telephone. Previously, any mobile technology was limited to those wealthy and elite enough to have an actual wired- in telephone permanently installed in their home. My next cell phone was also analog, and was still basically simply for mobile telephone capability, but was far smaller and much lighter (although much heavier) by today's standards.
As more and more companies started building cell systems, the pricing also came down somewhat. A few years later, these phones were replaced by what was referred to as digital technology, only to soon thereafter be replaced by 2G technology, followed by 3G, and now we are using the 4G technology as the preferred type, also some report having enhanced, LTE, etc, service. I am sure we will soon experience 5G!. Of course, each time a new technology came on, people needed to upgrade their cell phone, or they could not take advantage of it. Along the way, the use of texts became more prevalent, and thus the phones took calls and texts. Soon, that wasn't enough, and we also needed to do more, and thus the Smartphone era began.
Although it was neither the largest in terms of operating system or even units sold, Apple convinced millions of followers that they needed the technology offered by their iPhone. Of course, approximately once a year or so, the iPhone has been upgraded, and we have seen the iPhone2, iPhone3, iPhone3G, iPhone4, and iPhone4S, etc, and now are on the iPhone 7. And, remember, the first iPhone only cam out about 10-11 years ago! Technology giant Google entered into this market with their Android operating system, and these two systems are now prevalent. Research in Motion's BlackBerry has lost traction because it trailed the others in recognizing the consumer market, and became entrenched with the business market.
BlackBerry has now found itself in the unenviable position of trying to play catch-up, and although they continue to introduce new models, continue to see their market share dwindle. Dominant player Nokia lost so much market share that it hoped that its new phones using Microsoft's Windows 7, and then OS10, technology helps them begin to retrench and gain market share, but it never happened! Do we all need all these upgrades, or have these companies simply done a great marketing job of convincing us we do?
2. There has been a decrease in the number of landlines, or wired home telephone lines. Has home telephone service improved because of all these changes, though?
3. Look at how many upgrades there have been in the computer technology industry. On one hand, we have seen the elimination of the reliance on the original DOS with numerous replacements (Windows has now gone through at least eight or nine versions/ upgrades, and Windows 10 is now being used). Chips have become faster, smaller, lighter and more featured, as well as less costly. The size of hard drives have dramatically increased from the original personal computers which had hard drives measured in kB to today's with hundreds of gB, or tB. Each system introduced claims needed improvements, yet each of them has just enough flaws to require eventual upgrades.
Similar things have occurred with Apple computers, with several software and hardware adjustments/ advances. Each tablet computer has tried to chase Apple and its iPad, then, iPad2, and now various sizes and enhanced software. yet Apple has remained dominant. Even Amazon tried to enter the market, with limited success), using an Android operating system. The technology companies are working to convince people that they need a tablet, although many of these are far less than full featured computers.
Technology companies make money on repeat business, upgrades and add - ons. It certainly appears to be in their best interest to "sell the sizzle, and not the steak."
Is the obsolescense because of rapid technological advances, or part of a marketing ploy, or some combination? My advice - go a little slower, examine your needs, and if these latest bells and whistles, are for you, and us a technology strategy!
1. Mobile cell technology is a great example. The other day I thought about how many different mobile devices I have owned. My first mobile telephone weighed quite a bit, and could best be described as a phone in a bag. It worked on analog technology, and was exactly as described, a mobile telephone. Previously, any mobile technology was limited to those wealthy and elite enough to have an actual wired- in telephone permanently installed in their home. My next cell phone was also analog, and was still basically simply for mobile telephone capability, but was far smaller and much lighter (although much heavier) by today's standards.
As more and more companies started building cell systems, the pricing also came down somewhat. A few years later, these phones were replaced by what was referred to as digital technology, only to soon thereafter be replaced by 2G technology, followed by 3G, and now we are using the 4G technology as the preferred type, also some report having enhanced, LTE, etc, service. I am sure we will soon experience 5G!. Of course, each time a new technology came on, people needed to upgrade their cell phone, or they could not take advantage of it. Along the way, the use of texts became more prevalent, and thus the phones took calls and texts. Soon, that wasn't enough, and we also needed to do more, and thus the Smartphone era began.
Although it was neither the largest in terms of operating system or even units sold, Apple convinced millions of followers that they needed the technology offered by their iPhone. Of course, approximately once a year or so, the iPhone has been upgraded, and we have seen the iPhone2, iPhone3, iPhone3G, iPhone4, and iPhone4S, etc, and now are on the iPhone 7. And, remember, the first iPhone only cam out about 10-11 years ago! Technology giant Google entered into this market with their Android operating system, and these two systems are now prevalent. Research in Motion's BlackBerry has lost traction because it trailed the others in recognizing the consumer market, and became entrenched with the business market.
BlackBerry has now found itself in the unenviable position of trying to play catch-up, and although they continue to introduce new models, continue to see their market share dwindle. Dominant player Nokia lost so much market share that it hoped that its new phones using Microsoft's Windows 7, and then OS10, technology helps them begin to retrench and gain market share, but it never happened! Do we all need all these upgrades, or have these companies simply done a great marketing job of convincing us we do?
2. There has been a decrease in the number of landlines, or wired home telephone lines. Has home telephone service improved because of all these changes, though?
3. Look at how many upgrades there have been in the computer technology industry. On one hand, we have seen the elimination of the reliance on the original DOS with numerous replacements (Windows has now gone through at least eight or nine versions/ upgrades, and Windows 10 is now being used). Chips have become faster, smaller, lighter and more featured, as well as less costly. The size of hard drives have dramatically increased from the original personal computers which had hard drives measured in kB to today's with hundreds of gB, or tB. Each system introduced claims needed improvements, yet each of them has just enough flaws to require eventual upgrades.
Similar things have occurred with Apple computers, with several software and hardware adjustments/ advances. Each tablet computer has tried to chase Apple and its iPad, then, iPad2, and now various sizes and enhanced software. yet Apple has remained dominant. Even Amazon tried to enter the market, with limited success), using an Android operating system. The technology companies are working to convince people that they need a tablet, although many of these are far less than full featured computers.
Technology companies make money on repeat business, upgrades and add - ons. It certainly appears to be in their best interest to "sell the sizzle, and not the steak."
Is the obsolescense because of rapid technological advances, or part of a marketing ploy, or some combination? My advice - go a little slower, examine your needs, and if these latest bells and whistles, are for you, and us a technology strategy!
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