I do not think technological progress is its own purpose. Or rather, technology is only as effective as the use to which it is put. Which actually makes some new technologies look rather silly.

Whenever new technologies are released; they usually turn up either in military equipment or in video game products; ironically. But its a much more profound question to look at an emerging technology and ask- how will this actually affect my life 10 years from now?

From this perspective; having a cell phone is actually a more disruptive / effective technology than being able to surf the internet. Surfing the internet allows me to send and receive emails (instead of making phone calls, faxes, or mail) and retrieve information faster- but cell phones allow me to organize, plan, advise, execute, and remain up to date from anywhere. I am a walking business.

Why is Starbucks my new office? More owing to the cell phone than my wireless internet card.

The internet will dramatically affect education, healthcare, legal and business processes- but as of yet most of the internet is little more than a somewhat-organized library.

Remember- people spend 1 hour a day looking at ‘assorted’ photos online, and less than 5 minutes a day learning a skill online. Most people do not use the internet effectively. Perhaps investment bankers and medical researchers are ahead of the curve.

But that’s just one example. Look at new technologies emerging web interaction- Adobe Flex, OpenSocial Apps, Social Browsers- which of these innovations will my kids find indespensible and which are mere toys for the techno-junky?

My friends make fun of me for continually mentioning the social gps apps for the iphone; such as ‘Loopt’, but I sincerely believe mobile geographic networking will have a permanent affect on how I live.

My philosophy of innovation revolves around the affect a technology will have on my life; and moreso on my health, job, education, knowledge, skills, and social interaction than on my ability to play high resolution computer games. Which is ironic; since the cutting edge of technology is usually the hardware and software built for gaming. I suppose the innovators build what they know.