Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

Some thoughts on Seth Godin’s idea of “pre digital” and how some places can become “formerly pre digital.”

Seth Godin recently posted thoughts on what he calls “pre digital.” I liked his thoughts. I can punch a few security holes in the example he uses of a hospital emergency room, but that is an aside. I like Godin’s statement:

Perhaps the most critical thing you can say of a typical institution: “That place is pre-digital.”

I interpret the phrase “pre digital” as:

Those people aren’t using the computer and communications technologies available.

Hmm. I find it hard to think of places that do use the computer and communications technologies available. Hence, these pre digital places are the norm.

Any place that exchanges goods and services can become formerly pre digital. Let’s consider grocery shopping as an example.

• I walk into the grocery store.
• My iPhone (or whatever) has a record of all the groceries I have purchased in the last year or ten.
• My iPhone displays a map of the store (transmitted to my iPhone by the store when I entered).
• The map includes the location of all items in the store.
• My iPhone displays the location of the items I usually buy.
• When I put an item in my basket, that item communicates with my iPhone as having been purchased.
• I can remove and “un-purchase” any item at any time.
• I don’t “check out” at a cash register because everything has all ready been registered and purchased.

Is this better? It is for some people at some time. Notice that I don’t have to talk to any other person in the store. That is hell for some people at some times. Also, the system depends on the vast majority of the people being honest. Therefore, it may not work.