Innovation is wonderful thing but it is no more than a parlor trick if it doesn't have purpose. This was the reason the Critical Intent blog was created. Last week at work, I watched as the line in front of the Apple store on Michigan Ave snaked around the corner in anticipation for the new iphone. Last year, a similar line in front of the Nike store just a block away for a pair of sneakers. At what point did technology become the most sought after consumer product? A pair of sneakers may or may not make you a better basketball player. A new iphone may increase your productivity but this isn't the reason these things sell. The cultural value of these items has far surpassed their monetary or technological value. Hypothetical question: If you had an iphone but could show no one and only use it in private would you buy one?
