Are you tech-ed off?

About 15 years ago, when my mom finally gave me the green light to purchase my very first mobile phone — much to her apprehension — I view it in two ways: easy and difficult.

Easy, because I was only choosing between two brands back then. However, looking back real careful, it was also difficult, because choosing between two was already tough given the number of players back then.

And by the way, I mentioned apprehension because of the perceived ill-effects of possessing a mobile phone back then — you know, losing interest in school, wasting time texting and others; imagine what kind of “repercussions” all the gadgets in the world can possibly do on someone.

So the entire point here is this: it will never be easy. Anymore.

Comparing then and now, maybe the choice was made difficult because you really had to splash out a pretty good amount a cash to acquire a device, given that it wasn’t really omnipresence like in today’s world. The present, however, poses a different challenge: what to get. Yes, we are spoilt for choices — and unless you’re a diehard of a certain brand — but that’s the whole point: you just can’t decide immediately.

Dilemma

So what is exactly happening?

Let’s put this into perspective. Gartner this year had predicted that worldwide combined shipments of devices, which include PCs, tablets, ultramobiles and mobile phones, will hit 2.4 billion units in 2014 — that’s about 33 per cent of the world’s population if you based the latter at over 7.2 billion.

And if almost half of the world — according to various sources — is living in poverty and cannot afford to buy a device, that percentage would double to around 66 per cent. Take out those who, for some reason, cannot handle or acquire a device — such as the infants and toddlers, elderly and incapacitated — and you’ll know how insane that number would be.

In simplest terms, there is — apparently — a lot up for grabs. Or, there’s more than enough for everyone.

The whole point here is that, while there is indeed a lot of stuff to choose from, have you ever asked yourself: what’s keeping me from deciding in a snap?

There are reasons — both obvious and underlying — that prevent us from making a choice immediately. Ever thought that a single reason will branch out into several more? For example, a flagship smartphone is launched: you know what to expect, like souped-up specs and the like, but admit it or not, there is probably something in your head telling you hey, another flagship is coming up; care to wait for it first? Right there and then, the decision-making process begins.

Once you’ve gotten your fill on them, some lower-priced device comes up with decent specs enough to rival the ones you’ve been previously trying to choose from. Then you try to make up your mind if you want something a bit economical or something that has some bragging rights along with it. Then your heart may try to tickle you and play the loyalty card, taking on your brain head-on that is saying it’s time to try something new. Then you discover some other device in another category that slaps in everything you want in a gizmo that entices you to shift your interest and budget to it. Then everything starts over again. Then…
…seems endless, doesn’t it?

Next big thing… when?

Just this year — and like every other year in recent memory when companies have tried to outshine each other with their amazing products — we saw several device launches that stirred up our interest and curiosity. And we’re not just talking about the usual suspects like smartphones, tablets and cameras.

Smart watches and fitness-tracking devices of all shapes and sizes — to mention a few — have also crept their way into the spotlight, trying to have that break-out moment. For the record, smart wearable gadgets indeed have a bright future; the only question is will it be sooner or later.

I chose to focus on this aspect of the industry because personally — and with all honesty — I myself am trying to await the next big thing. Sure, specifications are getting better, aesthetics are becoming even more appealing, but still — to simply put it — smartphones are still smartphones, tablets are still tablets and others are still what they are.

Probably, there are exceptions, such as smart glasses, which have really yet to come into the consumer or commercial level, which promises to bring something new to us; and cameras that have begun to rehash themselves into funkier shapes. To be fair, what I’ve just said is completely subjective; I am 100 per cent sure there are those who will disagree with this.

Trends are another interesting thing to gauge. Last year, and even in a good part of 2014, smart TVs were the talk of the town; before and along with that, 3D TVs. Ever heard anything loud from those segments recently?

I believe 2014 was a relatively quiet year compared to recent years, when to-be-launched gizmos were highly-anticipated and everyone was dying to find out what it could bring to the table. Until recently, however, the impression I seem to get — and I could be wrong, very wrong, even — is that people are probably starting to get tired of what they see. The only exceptions here — of course — are the technophiles. But even I think that even a small number of them feel the same way.

Aura of mystery

When I think of 2015, I think of many, many more products to pop out in the market. That’s stating the obvious; and saying that that’s stating the obvious is an understatement. And it’s even more of an understatement to think beyond 2015.

The only question is, what kind of “more” will these new devices give us?

Right now, not only do we live in a world where we can’t live without our devices, but we’re also immersed in an age where these gadgets somehow, to a certain extent, dictate our lives.

And then there’s the irony and beauty of this all: while we know there will be more products and choices on the horizon, there is also that bit of anxiety and excitement on what awesome thing will come out next. For all the monotony and boredom there is today, there’s always something to look forward to.

Consumers will continue to spend on gadgets — there’s no doubt about that. Customers will keep on waiting for the next in-your-face-device-that-I’ll-get-first-over-you — that’s another fact.

And maybe the best decision is the uncanny: don’t buy anything at all for the moment. If your device is still functioning well, then stick to it. You’ll probably get your money’s worth better if you’ll be a bit more patient.

And did you notice that I never mentioned the word “technology” in this entire thing? Well, that goes to show you how tiring it can be.