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This will probably make me unpopular. But: coding and designing (most) mobile apps* no longer is "tech". As they quoted in the article: “Silicon Valley has cre

by leot 12y ago

This will probably make me unpopular. But: coding and designing (most) mobile apps* no longer is "tech". As they quoted in the article: “Silicon Valley has created the platforms. The maturation of the space is what you put on those platforms.” When a space has matured, and some group of people are deploying content to that space, then those people are not technologists any more than those deploying content to radio, TV, or cinema are. There was a time when radio and TV were tech, too. Now they're just radio and TV. Similarly, mobile apps will soon just be mobile apps, and firms that work in this space will no longer be thought of as being involved in "tech". *By definition, apps that involve considerable development of some fancy new technology still count as tech.

enraged_camel 12y ago
>>When a space has matured, and some group of people are deploying content to that space, then those people are not technologists any more than those deploying content to radio, TV, or cinema are. There is a big difference between people who create content for the mass media and those who design and develop mobile apps. Suggesting that what the latter do is not "tech" is condescension and snobbery, the same kind that machine code developers have had towards assembly developers, and C developers have had towards C++ developers, and Java developers have had towards web developers. We're all standing on the shoulders of giants. Remember this, and it will keep you humble. edit: drive-by downvoting is the best kind. :)
- leot 12y ago
  FTA: “LA is and always has been a city that creates mass-market products. We’re closer to culture than Silicon Valley, so we’re crushing it in social mobile. Web 2.0 might have been there. Web 3.0 is here.” -Mike Jones, CEO of Science
  - calinet6 12y ago
    You miss the point. Making a better product that is not solely a technological feat is not anti-technologist.
- calinet6 12y ago
  I upvoted you, because you are indeed adding to the conversation. Others down-voted you because your argument was about 30% too emotional. The error in both of your arguments is assuming it matters at all whether these are "tech" pursuits or not; whether the measure of a startup's value is on its technical foundation. It's quite the opposite. The more holistic understanding you have of your market, the needs of your users, your core values, culture, and everything else—including the raw abilities of technology—the better product you'll be able to make. In the end, this is not a tech boom, but a product development boom enabled by technology. We're in the artistic and humanistic bloom of a flower rooted in a new medium. As with radio, TV, and cinema, we are now able to do more than showcase technology: we are able to tell stories with technology that relates to our lives, and our lives to it. The best will be and surely have been humanistic technologists—certainly not one or the other.
- rayiner 12y ago
  > Suggesting that what the latter do is not "tech" is condescension and snobbery, the same kind that machine code developers have had towards assembly developers, and C developers have had towards C++ developers, and Java developers have had towards web developers. I wouldn't put it in the past tense! Engineers love snobbery,[1] it's one of our favorite things. But, as you say, it's rarely productive. [1] See, e.g., any discussion of college majors on HN.

by leot 12y ago

enraged_camel 12y ago

>>When a space has matured, and some group of people are deploying content to that space, then those people are not technologists any more than those deploying content to radio, TV, or cinema are. There is a big difference between people who create content for the mass media and those who design and develop mobile apps. Suggesting that what the latter do is not "tech" is condescension and snobbery, the same kind that machine code developers have had towards assembly developers, and C developers have had towards C++ developers, and Java developers have had towards web developers. We're all standing on the shoulders of giants. Remember this, and it will keep you humble. edit: drive-by downvoting is the best kind. :)

leot 12y ago
FTA: “LA is and always has been a city that creates mass-market products. We’re closer to culture than Silicon Valley, so we’re crushing it in social mobile. Web 2.0 might have been there. Web 3.0 is here.” -Mike Jones, CEO of Science
- calinet6 12y ago
  You miss the point. Making a better product that is not solely a technological feat is not anti-technologist.
calinet6 12y ago
I upvoted you, because you are indeed adding to the conversation. Others down-voted you because your argument was about 30% too emotional. The error in both of your arguments is assuming it matters at all whether these are "tech" pursuits or not; whether the measure of a startup's value is on its technical foundation. It's quite the opposite. The more holistic understanding you have of your market, the needs of your users, your core values, culture, and everything else—including the raw abilities of technology—the better product you'll be able to make. In the end, this is not a tech boom, but a product development boom enabled by technology. We're in the artistic and humanistic bloom of a flower rooted in a new medium. As with radio, TV, and cinema, we are now able to do more than showcase technology: we are able to tell stories with technology that relates to our lives, and our lives to it. The best will be and surely have been humanistic technologists—certainly not one or the other.
rayiner 12y ago
> Suggesting that what the latter do is not "tech" is condescension and snobbery, the same kind that machine code developers have had towards assembly developers, and C developers have had towards C++ developers, and Java developers have had towards web developers. I wouldn't put it in the past tense! Engineers love snobbery,[1] it's one of our favorite things. But, as you say, it's rarely productive. [1] See, e.g., any discussion of college majors on HN.