How about software that can recognise a picture of a bar code taken with your cell phone, and provide you with product information? Or technology that can sort photos based on whether there's a face in the picture, or whether the picture was taken outdoors?
These are some of the ideas Bill Gates raved about at Microsoft's annual financial analysts conference.
I can't help but reflect on the great innovations we've had from Microsoft over the years. Microsoft is an aggressive follower. When people begin moving in a particular direction, Microsoft steps out in front of them on the highway, and holds up a sign that says "what you want is easier with Windows". Time and time again, Microsoft has claimed that new and innovative, even futuristic, technologies will be delivered. Yet in reality, this is not Microsoft's goal.
Take Internet Explorer for example. There was a time, during the Great Browser Battles, when Microsoft did innovate. Their stated goal was to create better technology and a better "user experience". Then, upon dominating the Market, Microsoft stops innovating completely. In fact, in recent interviews, Microsoft has even claimed that Internet Explorer development has been virtual "abandoned". The result? Other browsers are innovative and better, but are saddled with the incredible liability of a very broken and very buggy Internet Explorer that they must remain compatible with.
The result? New browser development "slows down" because of the IE albatross. IE remains strong because of it's ties to Windows, and web developers everywhere operate at 30% efficiency while better browsers struggle to gain acceptance. This is great for Windows because competitors have more struggles to cope with. Because IE isn't standards-compliant and other browsers are, it puts a severe roadblock in front of those who want to pitch standards as useful.
All of this is in Microsoft's interests.
Yet, Microsoft preaches that they are the champion of innovation. In reality, few innovations drive the development of Windows, and it would be a great day indeed if Microsoft were to actually put the actual quality of "user experience" ahead of their claim that Windows delivers it.
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