Our Pop Technology Culture Is In Danger

[Commentary] We live in a golden age of Pop Technology. Pop Technology is a lot like pop culture, or pop music, except that instead of having a fascination for an object (pet rock), a fashion trend (shoulder pads for women) or a singer (Lady Gaga), the immediate objects of public fascination are standalone Web programs or apps for a device, like an iPhone or an Android. Pop Technology is hip and cool, and may last only for a little while. It's Blippy or Swipely or Billshrink. Some PopTech may catch fire or disappear into a crowded app-scape. My Space was the standard-bearer of social networking until it wasn't. More important, however, is the environment which nurtured the development of all the cool stuff. The crucial question whether those forces will be able to survive or whether they will be beaten into submission.