The Need for Something New

What is it that creates a drive in people to always be looking out for what’s new.

I recently let on to Jonathan (my son) that I had access to the Windows Vista Beta code. This was followed by a couple of requests from his friends to get them access. I declined, but it did get me thinking. What is it about people that keeps them pushing for the new. Is it something that you grow out of? Do you go into reverse at some point and start pushing for something old?

My drive to see something new is certainly less than it is for these teenagers. Perhaps I’m just getting to the point where I feel that there is nothing really new. A new version of Windows and a new version of Office; both of these things will make a difference to the way that millions of people will work (even if they don’t use it). But will it make a real significant change to the way people live their lives. We’ll still be typing for the most part, even though voice recognition software has been available for years. We’ll still be using devices on a desk, whether they are laptops or desktop. Other device types won’t really make a significant difference to us, they’ll still be on the periphery of most of our lives. Let’s face it, the iPod and other MP3 players haven’t really changed the way we live our lives, all they have done is made it more convenient, it’s still personal music coming through those headphones.

Boy, I sound like an old man – “there’s nothing new under the sun”.

Perhaps I’m suffering from a bit of a mid-life crisis – perhaps IT is suffering from a bit of a mid-life crisis. IT has certainly moved out of the pioneering phase into more of the mainstream, but you certainly can’t regard it as a utility or even ubiquitous.