eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.
“Sir, technology is in great danger!”
“Yes, I know. We are once again menaced by that evil villain, Bad Economy. He’ll stop at nothing to crush technology spending, humble powerful technology companies and kill all innovation.”
“But what will we do, sir? I don’t think technology can take much more of this!”
“There is hope. In the past when Bad Economy has struck, a hero has come forth who has fought back to protect technology, a hero called Emerging Technology. In the early 1990s, Bad Economy struck hard, using his evil recession ray to rain woe on all. But Emerging Technology fought with the powers of improved PC technology, powerful networking and e-mail applications, and, most effectively, the early World Wide Web. These technologies helped boost businesses and drive Bad Economy back to his hidden lair.”
“Then, at the turn of the century, Bad Economy struck again, this time with a new ally called Burst Bubble. But Emerging Technology was once again able to strike him down with powers such as Web 2.0 and SaaS.”
“We must put forth the call to Emerging Technology. I only hope that it isn’t too late.”
The scene shifts to the top of a massive skyscraper where the super-villain Bad Economy looks down on the damage he has wrought and cackles with evil delight.
“Yes, yes! Nothing can stop me now. Soon purchases of technology will grind to a standstill and cutbacks in research and development will crush all innovation. Look at all of the layoffs done in a poorly thought-out panic. Fools, these businesses will soon find out that they have lost the very people who help make them profitable. Ha ha ha!
And look at all of the technology projects that are being postponed or cut entirely. The shortsighted lemmings don’t even realize that this will cost them much more in the long run.”
“Bwu hahaha! Weep and cower, technology, at the awesome power of Bad Economy!”
“Not so fast, Bad Economy.”
“What? Emerging Technology! Arggghhh. Well, no matter. You may have stopped me in the past, but now I am stronger. Not since my grandfather Depression has the world seen such terrible power as I wield now. You are no match for me!”
“Yes, you have become strong, Bad Economy, but your powers do not change. Always you use the forces of fear, uncertainty and doubt to frighten businesses into making poor decisions.
“But my powers are always changing. Thanks to innovation and entrepreneurship, I will always have new weapons to wield against the forces of evil that you represent.”
“Behold, I have the power of the Cloud, enabling innovators to build exciting new services with almost no upfront costs to worry about. Look upon the twin forces of the Semantic Web and Semantic Search, bringing order and reason to the Web and enabling a whole new class of Web applications. Fear the Mobile Web, which is changing the whole concept of computing. And tremble before the power of Green, which has the potential to rival the PC age itself.”
“No!” screams Bad Economy, “You will not stop me again!” And with a curse he hurls all his might at Emerging Technology.
And the battle is joined. Can Emerging Technology once again provide the spark to throw back Bad Economy? Or will Bad Economy push technology into a dark age ruled by FUD? Only time will tell, but the fate of all lies in the balance.