Future Use: Damn Data Plans Is Still Expensive

We had a speaker today come in, Wayne MacPhail who is a New Media consultant and content producer. We had a very insightful lecture on where it came from, how it was used and the economy of innovation from a consumer stand point. This lecture is perfect for all new media producers, from developers to designers and back as he chronicled the use, he touched on a lot of topic about visions of how technology’s perceived use is. From scenes in a sci-fi movie like 2001 Space Odyssey, Blade Runner, Minority Report that technology use is concurrent-past, present and future while we whittle away on our respective cozy box of alternate existence. We tend to only think now.

The current cost of our cellphone’s data plan (yes I’m back here again) doesn’t accurately reflect on how we use it. Wayne had indicated that competition will drive the cost for use of data down. I forget what it’s called…but it really does fly in the face of traditional theory of supply and demand. As the product becomes a commodity, it’ll generate competition and drive prices down. When oh when will the prices go down? Right along with having free internet access, either by an unsecure wireless access in the city center or on a train, subway, bus or plane. Wayne said that this kind of data cost will be like that of utilities. It’ll be free in theory but it’s coming out of our tax dollars instead of our disposable income which can shape things to come. Raising the question, “When will it happen?”.

Obviously we’re all addicted to our cellphone. I’m addicted to the email access on mine. No thanks to Ma Bell and in my case, the service provider is Rogers I believe is inhibiting innovation and how we can best expand use of mobile technology because the data plan is too expensive!?!! I believe that Ma Bell is the monopoly as CRTC opens the competition to other companies, I’m still waiting for the cost of data plan to go down. It looks like it will be some time to come as there are very conservative policies in place for this kind of market. I honestly blame colonial cultural values that maintain this kind of conservative attitude towards innovation. It stifles access and keeps costs high.

What now? The cost of battery technology is his next Disruptive Technology. I just hope that it applies to the electric car being accessible to the general public as it becomes commodity.