The Next Killer Apps?

In the September issue of Fast Company | 5 Technologies That Will Change the World Scott Kirsner unveils five reasons the tech industry is not doomed. This is good news for those of us who are in the technology business, because it proves that there is still room for innovation in an industry where new generations of processors no longer evolve so fast that last year's technology is obsolete.

Instead of thinking about tecnology as just computers, peripherals and software, the folks profiled in this article thought about needs in the marketplace and how technology could meet them. The results were new applicatons that forge new paths to end results that users formerly struggled to deliver.

Since this was in the print issue of FC, this had to go to press prior to last week's massive blackout. This just makes the example of the Mohegan Sun's distributed power generation model even more timely and compelling. (Think there's a way to get some gas to Phoenix while they're at it?)

I'll bet you could guess which of the five was my favorite, though. The Prada example, of course. It just blows me away that the tag on a shirt can trigger relevant merchandising in the dressing room!

Radio Frequency Point of Sale/Auto ID technology is a growing segment of the technology market that will grow in the coming years as more and more retailers recognize the power of using it for applications beyond price scanning and inventory control. This technology enables retailers to delight their customers like never before, while saving money. Sounds like a winner!