Keep moving forward, a sentiment that could take on many meanings. Today I am using it in the sense of the technology we use. Technology is not a stagnant field and to not advance with it is a mistake. Being at 316 I get to see some of the amazing ways technology and its uses are developing, but I also see the resistance people have against moving forward with it. This brings up two questions I wish to answer. Why is it so important to move forward, and, why do people not wish to do so?
As to why it is important to move forward, I want you to do something for me. Grab your cell phone. Now take a second and think about the last time you used it for something such as making plans or a work call, I’m guessing you don’t have to think too hard. A lot of you will have smartphones. Do you use it to send work emails, do work, or look stuff up? Probably. The point is in today’s cellphone world you adopt it or get left behind. But we are at a point beyond just the cellphone. It’s time to move beyond. Things like virtual reality (VR) goggles, 3D cameras, and Drones are breaking onto the scene and coming up quick. 316 Strategy Group was an early adopter and is employing these technologies into their marketing strategies with clients on a daily basis. It is predicted by 2019 17 million people in the United States alone will be using VR monthly. To be slow to adopt new technology is dangerous in business.
So why be hesitant to adopt this new technology. There are a few reasons, a major one being the comfort. People take the time to learn the technology they have. They continue to use it until its second nature. They become comfortable with it. There is a certain amount of uncertainty using new technology. What if it doesn’t work right or doesn’t catch on? This feeling of comfort is something I see hold people back when 316 tries to introduce them to new technology. Another issue people can have is time. I have seen from day one here the value of time. Time is one of the most valuable things people have, and to learn a new technology is to give some up. Some people do not see this as a good allocation of their precious resource of time.
So how do we get people to come around? There is one thing that works better than anything you can say. Have them try it. We let people try out VR goggles, Google Cardboard, this past week and the feedback was extraordinary. After trying them everyone wanted to know more. There were questions and expressions of amazement but no blatant refusal of the technology. Sometimes all people need is a nudge in the right direction. The research is out there, technology like VR is only going to advance.
There’s always a richer, more immersive medium to experience the world. And after video, the next logical step is fully-immersive virtual reality. ~ Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook
If you are someone who is fairly resistant to technology — who still reads books on paper, and doesn’t even Snapchat — or if you’re often skeptical of emerging technologies’ impact, Virtual Reality is already getting cheaper and more sophisticated. Once it goes mainstream, it won’t just change how we consume entertainment. It will change how we live.
If you are interested in trying out VR, I have a few Google Cardboard VR boxes that I am giving away. Just drop me a note at [email protected]. I would love to hear from you.
The world is moving forward and it’s time to go with it.
~ Barry
