As a software engineer I have long contended that software is the driving force of technological advancements especially in the computer industry. It doesn’t matter how fast the processor is, how much memory the computer has, or what the frame rate may be on the video card. Without the proper software that takes advantage of the computer’s technology hardware is nothing but a very expensive paperweight.
I’ve lived during the golden age of personal computers. When I was young I witnessed the introduction of the Apple ][. The idea of a personal computer was foreign. It was nothing but a hobbyist appliance until a killer application made the computer mainstream. That software was a spreadsheet called Visicalc. For its time it was amazing.
When the IBM PC was introduced it too became popular once the proper software was created. Lotus 1-2-3 expanded the functionality of the spreadsheet where Visicalc only dreamed of going with the Apple ][. Add to that word processing such as WordPerfect and the general public began to realize the value a personal computer could bring.
The traditional argument is that software has always relied on the hardware to really make revolutionary leaps to meet a user's needs. I believe the contrary to be the driving force. A really breakthrough piece of software will drive the hardware innovation to move the market forward. Examples of this can be found in the gaming industry. As games become more inclusive and complex, they require better graphics cards and processors to run the game engine. Were it not for the games, advanced video cards or more dense computing may not have been a driving factor in the hardware arena.
Software continues to emerge and drive the computer industry to new heights. Each new application offers the promise of moving society and individuals in new areas never before realized. Join me as I travel through the software jungle looking for new applications that enable us to grow. But it is not just computers that are requiring this software.
Smart devices are expanding at what seems to be an exponential rate. Very few of us could have imagined that a cellphone would be the device of choice for consuming technology. But here we are with what amounts to small super computers in our pockets with more processing power than what NASA used to send men into space. Now we are seeing other devices that also include intelligence and hence customized software.
Household items such as refrigerators, washers, dryers, stoves all now have electronics built into them and many can be controlled from an app on your phone or tablet. But it is not just the large appliances that have these capabilities. Door locks, door bells, thermostats, light bulbs, light switches and even small sensors also have the ability to communicate creating vast ecosystems throughout the home, office, and your car. The future has never been brighter when it comes to software development.
Perhaps this is why computers and in particular software have been so fascinating to me. Every day there are new opportunities to go in a completely new direction to solve the world's problems or make people's lives more fulfilling. Don't be afraid to dream. It is possible for you to change the world through software with just one small idea.
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