WSTA West Sound Technology Association

The Summer of Our Discontent?

June 1, 2010 - As I impatiently await the arrival of summer weather in Puget Sound, there has been time to reflect on the most recent current events. Ongoing wars, terrorism, the still-deflating real estate bubble, worldwide economic distress, high unemployment and even higher under employment -- there’s an abundance of bad news overpowering the good kind. Locally, many of my clients have furloughed workers, and governments struggle with budgets.  The Deepwater Horizon disaster, which a month later still continues to soil the Gulf, serves as a stark and constant reminder that we need to do better to care for our environment. For many, there is a concern that our future will not be as bright as the past.

Despite the bad news, it is important to remember these events can - and often do - lead to positive changes. It’s human nature that the toughest choices come at the darkest hour. Major disruptions upset the status quo, and unfortunately, are often necessary to cause us to refocus our goals. People are finding they can make do with less and saving more.  Housing price decreases will make it more affordable to all. While credit is still tight, lenders who stuck by solid values and did not chase the bubble grew stronger, as did businesses which operated leanly and efficiently.  Oil, a technology around for several centuries with an enormous impact on our lives in the 20th century, has also led to global pollution. It is entrenched in our economy, but may now yield to cleaner alternatives as we all make new choices when reevaluating costs vs. benefits.   Numerous upcoming technologies like solar, wind, energy reclamation and other efficiencies can make a dent in our demand for oil.

All technology, both low and high tech, focuses on improvements over those which exist. This inherently positive force for change is why it is worth our attention to support and encourage innovation in business and our personal lives. It requires change, which is uncomfortable, but this leads to opportunities.  The rapidly expanding internet, increases in computational capabilities, and ubiquitous mobile networks are making dramatic changes. For example, a friend commented on their recent discovery of Netflix streaming. Fewer trips to the video store translate into less need for gas and roads.

Just last year, I was receiving packages of dozens of disks each quarter, now eliminated in favor of digital downloads. Most clients are scanning and emailing documents - cutting down on paper usage, handling, transport and storage.  Seeing a significant drop in mail volume, the post office is consolidating offices and considering the discontinuation of Saturday delivery.  Medical offices in the network have your information so you don’t have to fill out redundant forms on each visit. More businesses allow workers to telework (if that term is not already obsolete) from home. With rapidly improving mobile networks, the line between work and play blurs. Despite privacy concerns, Facebook recently added its 500 Millionth member. There appears to be a genuine shift where people come together for meetings less often because they can stay in touch virtually from anywhere.  Even WSTA now livestreams its monthly meetings, capturing worldwide viewers in numbers which often exceed those of physical attendees.

Education as an industry is also on the road of change. With the economic downturn more people than ever are attending college, both physically and in their homes given access to online education. Wal*Mart, with 1.4 million U.S. employees, just announced a 15% tuition grant. Children who carry around stacks of paper school books already seem backwards when compared with those who use Kindles and iPads. Our upcoming summit in October will focus on the implications education has in an increasingly technological world.

When looking back at all the recent calamities, no one can undo the past, but we can choose a new future given the many opportunities. This is a good time to reassess priorities, find new ways to become more efficient, or save money, energy and time. Once we make it through this tough spell, there are good reasons to expect a much brighter future. And it looks like summer may be just around the corner.