Life in School and Startup

woot.

Complete graphics overhaul coming up. No more of this blah blah blah boring server side coding to be done.  For the next three weeks we are focusing almost exclusively on making the app and the website look better. Photoshop + XHTML + CSS + jQuery (more commonly known as the Devil) all day every day. It’s interesting, the majority of the work that has to be done for this product will never be actually SEEN by the end user (tough cookies, Scott). On the same design note, we’re possibly taking on a co-founder this summer that will be focusing on design.

I keep thinking about a post by Dave Mcclure about the importance of design in consumer internet start ups. We really do need to put a lot more effort into making addicting user experiences if we want to be successful. I’m becoming more and more of a Dave fanboy as time goes on. I really like his writing style – very flow of conscious.

Final note: TechStars for a day. Holy bleeep.  Nuff said.

Over the past few days I’ve heard about numerous acquisitions taking place. Additionally, over the few days I’ve been doing a lot of reading on websites such as wired, gigaOM, techcrunch, etc., and I’m a little confused. Is this a sign of hope, or just the end of ignorance?

Acquisitions! The ecomoy is turning around!

Reading! I’m just now hearing about things that have been happening all along!

One of the previous lines is true. Sadly, I don’t know which one it is. It’s amazing how much people don’t know. There is so much information out there, how can any one person soak it all up. Even for a single market niche, (e.g. current smart phone technology) I would have to read non-stop all day just to keep up with what is going on! I heard that back in the day (which was a Wednesday for you Dane Cook fans out there. Chew on it, it’s delicious), the amount people learned in a lifetime was equatable to the amount of information contained in one issue of the New York Times. Schools take a good approach to learning: learn something about everything and everything about something. People can only hope to do just that.

But I’m just rambling now. The moral of the story is that one of two good things is happening. Either the economy is looking up or I’m just more aware of what’s going on in the tech world.

EDIT ——-> Funnily enough, this was written the day after I wrote this http://bit.ly/Nz16f . Things are looking up around here.

Megatrends have come and gone since consumer society has been around.  All of the sheeple walking here and there, to and fro, to stay up with the latest fashion trends, social networks, employment booms and busts, etc.  Though “active” participation in society does not require one to stay up with the bleeding edge fashion or social networks, there exist other megatrends that eventually weave themselves into the fabric of our daily lives – ones that society will deem required for “normal” participation.  After much deliberation and study, I’ve decided to refer to these phenomena as “lifestyle revolutions” due to their revolutionary change on the lifestyle habits of people  Just as the advent of the Model T, large-scale farming, Jesus, and the internet forever changed the way we conduct our day-to-day lives, so will the current rise of talk and data via mobile phones.

As if everyone in society isn’t completely “last minute” yet, we sure as hell are all going to be flying by the seat of our pants by the time my kids are having kids.  Everyone and every”thing” is now at the fingertips of consumers able to place a phone call and view internet data whenever and wherever they do so choose.  Yellowpages and libraries are much less popular, payphones are disappearing at an alarming rate, and mobile accessories are on the rise due to the increasing amount of lifestyle reliance on our mobile phone.  I would hate to be in Rand McNally’s shoes right now.  Why, though, is the mobile phone revolution going to persist longer than other fads such as Friendster and the Pet Rock – persist much like Microsoft Windows and the Petroleum industry has?

The answer is not that one person’s daily life relies on a mobile phone for communication and internet.  The answer is that the vast majority of society will soon rely on the abilities of mobile devices.  When adults tell me they don’t have a mode of transportation, a mobile phone, the internet, etc, I begin to wonder why.  It’s not necessarily that each person needs these items for his or her own personal use, but rather to effectively participate in American society.

I can see in 30 years everyone having a mobile phone with internet access.  People will consider it a lifestyle necessity, and will be severely impacted should damage or loss occur.  In the meantime, let’s just sit back and ride the wave of an enormous industry growing to support this mobile revolution.