Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

My experiences teach me that younger technologists are much better at predicting the future than older technologists.

Go back to 2007. I am working in a group that looks at technology trends so we can be ready for the future when it comes. We were considering operating systems for smartphones. The senior managers kept telling us to be ready for Microsoft Windows on the smartphone. The young engineers working with me all twisted their faces in confusion. Microsoft? Are you kidding? Microsoft OS on a smartphone?

To the younger engineers, Microsoft was like IBM to the older engineers. An interesting part of history, but not part of the future.

Fast forward to 2013: what OSs dominate smartphones? Android and iOS. Microsoft? Not there.

When attempting to predict the future, here is a tip: ask young(er) people. After all, the younger technologists make the future.