Have you ever really considered how much impact technology has had on our lives over the last 20 years? Mobile technology? Desktop/laptop computers? The Internet?
I would say that it is very truly revolutionary to our culture and our society and I don’t believe that is overstating it in any way. Just look at three things to consider the impacts that the Internet has on our lives: blogs, e-commerce, and TV. Small examples I know but very representative.
Blogs
Can you image how many people would be making money voicing their opinions if it weren’t for blogs? Blogs have leveled the playing field for journalism and voicing opinions. Ten or fifteen years ago you would have had to write your opinions, have them printed in some way, find ways to get people to subscribe (probably via other papers), and then figure out how to distribute them. On top of that the costs would have been prohibitive for most.
Today, those people can start a blog. Given they still have to advertise in some way to build an audience but they have the opportunity. Then, if you have something worth discussing… people will follow and discuss. Add to it that quite a few bloggers make quite a bit of money via this model.
E-Commerce
Now think about the e-commerce world. Remember when you had to wait for the Sears or JCPenney’s catalog to arrive? You’d order via paper or phone. Then after waiting 6 to 8 weeks… there the item was. The limited selection seemed fine in those days when that was your option.
Today, anyone with a product can bring up an e-commerce site and sell things. No matter where in the world they live as long as they have an Internet connection and can get a package to UPS or FedEx, they can be a distributor. Again, they still have to get people to come buy them but they have the option. On top of that, we as consumers have virtually endless options available at our fingertips. Once we purchase the item, it’s usually in our hands within a week or so.
Television
Television is another place where technology continues to revolutionize our society/culture. Remember the old black and white TVs? Remember VHF and UHF? Remember the tin foil on the antenna and potentially how the TV acted differently depending on where you stood? How many channels you had probably depended on where you lived… I remember about 5.
Today, you have virtually unlimited channel options. Between cable/dish and the content on the Internet almost anyone can be a TV station. It used to be that huge barriers to entry benefited the big TV networks. they were the only ones who could play. Now we’re seeing millionaires growing out of the ashes of those barriers via networks like YouTube or Vimeo.
We’re also seeing the “standard” television moving more toward an interactive device. Look to examples like Google TV, Roku, Boxee, etc. We’ll be able to watch what we want, from who we want, when we want. See: The future of the tube.
A Different Landscape
Much has changed over the last 20 years. Technology has changed the way that we think and act. It is continuing to change the economy as we watch. Just ask the newspaper companies, cable companies, TV networks, record labels, and many others. I believe a framework is being created that benefits the entrepreneur and the small business. Whether it is YouTube, FaceBook, blogging, AdWords marketing, or any of the other options now available to business. Entrepreneurs and small businesses simply need to reach out and grab the opportunities. The barriers that used to exist are gone.
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