It was Douglas Adams who said: “Technology is a word that describes something that doesn’t work yet.” (Thanks Oded for the quote, I was looking for it). I heard this recently, and I think it is very insightful.
There’s a difference between “technology” and a “product”. The difference being, that technology is the stage when it still just belongs to the “early adapters” realm. When it is already widely accepted you don’t call it “technology”. Instead of calling it “this new technology which let’s you do ex-why-zeee…” you call it “a fax machine”, “a phone”, “a stereo”, “a pencil”, “facebook”, or just “whatchamacallit“.
I love that word – “whatchamacallit“, when I was young my parents would use it every so often (as part of the Hebrish we spoke at home); I used to try and make believe that it means something about purchasing a Watch in the Makkolet (a local supermarket in Hebrew). Those were the days.
I didn’t even know it had a “correct” spelling. But apparently it does. What’d you know.
Wishing all you entrepreneurs that your products won’t be a “technology” but a “whatchamacallit”.
