This is a big deal for Uber and those that already use many of the partner apps/services. I wonder how many people saw this potential in a company like Uber. Theyve been very successful, but they still havent reached near their full potential. I love it when folks ask me my opinion about tech and startups (also social media). In my experience Ive found there seems to be 3 groups of people. First, the average consumer that uses tech in their daily lives. Their feelings about technology go as far as the products they find useful to them. Its about utility and entertainment. This is the largest group. Then there the tech enthusiasts. They are the people that the consumers depend on for technology advice. These folks understand device specs, how to setup/install just about anything, whats the latest and greatest, etc. In the age of mobile, apps, the internet and rapid innovation, this group is growing, but far smaller than the average consumer. Thats a given. The third group is by far the smallest. Its the tech visionaries. They are the ones that can connect the dots of the NOW to those of the future. The title of visionary is most often associated with those who have grand ideas and usually act on them to create the technology the rest of us couldnt imagine. You dont have to create the tech to be a visionary. I think there are a group of folks who do an incredible job of analyzing the world of tech. They also connect the dots, but then share with us what they see, usually in an effort to further the exploration and discussion of the topic. I cant tell you how many times Ive been asked How will XYZ company possibly make money? or seen comments like This device/app/company is only a flash in the pan. Although Im far from a tech visionary, but I think Im good at connecting some of the dots. However, I consider Robert Scoble the real deal and I enjoy understanding things through his lens. He unabashedly immerses himself in tech for the sake of sharing what he discovers. Although he himself doesnt run a tech startup and hasnt produced a consumer tech product Im sure hes influenced those who have more than we know. I certainly enjoy seeing companies like Uber grow beyond our expectations based on old context. What can a taxi or back car service with a mobile app can become? It was Jeremiah Owyang who I first heard say, many months ago, that Uber would start being used as a local delivery service as well. This is indeed now being tested by Uber in the D.C. area. As with many other services have made their systems available via APIs, the possibilities are endless. A good product/service has its limits. Introduce the creativity of the development community (and those employing them) and you will see the magic happen. The average consumer may not care at this moment and the tech enthusiast might see Uber as the 21st century way to catch a ride. Uber is connecting some dots and doing it well. Thoughts?
Posted on: Wed, 20 Aug 2014 20:40:32 +0000
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