itneverhappened

Samsung: “We believe the Internet will be like air, something you want everywhere you go.”

The New York Times article today regarding faster wireless networking protocols asks the simple question, “Will Anyone Care?” Sure, they’re just trying to provide a counterweight to the hype. But it is such a dumb counterweight.

Let’s take a minute to remember back fifteen years, before the Internet even existed. In order to find out all the newest space Lego sets, I had to actually go to the store and, since no store ever carried the entire lineup of sets, buy one. That way I could get the little foldout that came inside with pictures of all the newest space police or blacktron, and show it off to my friends at recess. But the real catch was the booklet that came in larger sets –not just a single folded up sheet but a comprehensive listing of every set Lego –essentially the reason for my eight year old existence– made.

Fifteen years later I’m pissed off when a retail chain’s website can’t tell me the inventory of all its local stores.

My point is that the convenience of information has come a long way. And that it still has a hell of a long way to go.

Maybe there’s no obvious “business plan” for faster wireless access yet, but anyone who thinks improvements to the structure of the internet aren’t going to catch on should probably just let their quill pen run dry.