3D Dilemma

It took me a while, but several years ago I finally figured out that when it comes to technology, you can never keep up with the latest and greatest - not a chance.  I got my first inkling of that truism back in college when I invested in a great eight-track tape player and thought I was now at the head of the class looking back at inferior audiophiles who were still relegated to a turntable.   But in no more than a year, the eight-track was headed for the dustbin of history, outpaced by the cassette tape player.  And the list just goes on with things like Beta tapes being replaced by VHS; CDs being replaced by iPods and digital downloadable music; DVD players being replaced by Blu-ray players; and so on.  The list just keeps on truckin’ as they would say back in the day.

I was recently reminded of this phenomenon when I heard a news piece the other day about the – drum roll please – 3D television that is now coming to the marketplace.  Didn’t we just get HDTV?  I can remember in my youth the transition from black and white TV to color TV.  My father fought it as long as possible.  I swear, he purposely waited until after I left the house to get a color TV set.  So, as a kid I was forced to visit the neighbors to see what all the fuss was about in the second part of The Wizard of Oz where “Oz” was in technicolor.  Seeing the entire “Oz” movie in black and white just doesn’t have the same dramatic effect, but if you never knew it was supposed to change color, you really didn’t know what you were missing.

That would also be true for the new 3D TV except for one minor problem - nearly the entire world population has now seen the movie Avatar, so we know in our heads what 3D looks like.   Its one thing if you don’t know what you’re missing; it’s quite another if you know how cool it would be to see something in 3D.  So thanks to James Cameron and Avatar, we will now all be salivating about getting a 3D television.

This technology race isn’t just relegated to entertainment.   The same is true for technology in the workplace.  First, you had your mainframe computer, then you had your mini-computer, followed by the desktop computer, laptop computer, notebook, tablet, pocket, PDA, wireless with telephone, music player, and downloadable applications.  We walk around with more computing power in our hand than the world’s largest computer had just 30 years ago.  The guys who flew to the moon had less computing power than I now have in my wrist watch.

The good news in all of this is that we can do, see and hear so much more than we could just a generation ago.  Technology has certainly helped us advance as a society.  The bad news is that we often feel like we are on a treadmill where we can never catch up with whatever the latest and greatest offers.  In my case, I plan to emulate my father.  No 3D TV for me.  Now, if I can just figure out which one of my neighbors gets one of those sets…

Comments

[Alureon]

Drum roll please – 3D television? there's a lot of that kind of television nowadays. I believe that changes is the only thing that doesn't change.;) We should embrace the newer and the better.

[Ange Wayne]

I want a 3D TV that doesn't need glasses. Those glasses makes my head aches. If I can buy a 3D TV what are the channels available in 3D? or what movie can I buy on the market that is 3D? I think it's too early to decide to buy a 3D TV. We must wait until we can experience the full technology and innovation of a 3D TV.

[affordable web design]

we all know that technology is a never ending discovery. every day there will be a new discovery. i believe in you that you can never keep up with the latest and greatest - not a chance. i enjoy reading your blog.

[MMX 300]

The trick is to be content, if one does not take control and persists to chase after the latest and greatest there will be no end like you said. I still use my dads 8 track in the garage and it still rocks.

[Lizbeth]

Good written. I can recommend you a site, where you will be able to find the link for music or soft download ( http://www.filecatch.com/trends/ch/12-08-2010.html )

[Tracy B Stewart]

Just think of the ancillary products that these innovations have fostered. And now we can look forward to fashionable 3D glasses .... a new source of bling.