Rant 153 1/6/12 Subject: Lack of context

Rant number 153


Yesterday on the radio, they were talking about 4G - yet another next big thing (have you noticed how often the next big thing isn't the big thing at all? yeah me too.)

For those of you not aware, 4G is intended to replace 3G, a mobile internet service using the mobile phone network to spread broadband speed(ish) internet to the masses.

4G is meant to take the speeds and turn it up to 11!

And I'm sure it will, once it's available - which it isn't.

Which brings me to the meat of the subject.


Essentially, the news report was talking about the delay in this techinology arriving to our shores, it even featured several interviews from people who 'need' this technology.

They interviewed two people who said that they need the tech to check their emails, there Facebook and twitter and watch streamed content on the move. The people who need the technology then are not really business people, they are just kids who can't bear to be switched off for a minute.

As such, I really do not accept that this technology is 'essential.'

They got a typical 'tech expert' involved on the story, who said that us not having this technology as fast as the American's and the south Koreans would put us behind the times and potentially hold us longer in recession.

I'm sorry, but is that really a valid argument?

I don't remember slow mobile broadband being the cause of the current financial uncertainty and I sure as hell don't think that faster mobile broadband is going to fix it either.

I do understand that some money could be made using this tech, but not for the country.

People need to get a grip. How can you argue that one very luxury based service can hold a country back or push it forward? Its severely lacking in any form of context.

If 4G takes us a couple years longer, but we manage to keep more hospitals running - I'd be much happier. I have 3G on my current phone - and yes it isn't fast. It also has Wifi though - and there are connections absolutely everywhere (and it grows every day)

I wonder what next big thing will push us out of this recession.

Give me strength!

Rant over.