Tech issues that need fixing in 2013

On Monday night, the nation will count down towards 2013.

Many hopes and dreams are now pegged on the success of the upcoming general election in March 2013. It will in some big ways decide the future for a lot of people.

That future includes the world of technology.

Every start of the year marks the time for new resolutions for many people. Some go as far as replacing their mobile phones and laptops.

So, what resolutions should we consider fulfilling on matters concerning technology come 2013? Here are some suggestions:

More sustainable technology start-ups

We can talk a good game about how we can invent an application that is designed to ease the world from certain day-to-day problems. That plan is often good on paper and even in code, up to the point where the business model is discussed.

Many techpreneurs still struggle to find the answer to the most important business question: How to earn money. It sounds simple in theory, but when it comes to the real world, the matter becomes slippery.

It is also at this point that techpreneurs discover that Kenya has very little room for failure.

Unlike in the Western world where failure can be an option, for Kenya, it can sound the death of a career.

The best approach would be to have more start-ups attempting many things. However, the prevailing high failure rate is not boding well socially.

The confidence in technology is still largely artificial. It is time Kenya thought out its actual needs instead of trying to invent things nobody will use. The hype needs to die so that reality sets in.

Less griping on social media

Some people believe that social media is the best platform to go whine and complain. True, it brings out failings, but that merely represents a fraction of the population.

Worse is that corporate organisations have taken to believing that social media is some sort of miracle pill that fixes problems overnight.

It’s later in social media campaigns that many realise that if they aren’t sound internally, even the best social media manager and the best campaign wouldn’t save it.

Accountability by telcos

Is there a single telecommunication company (telco) that puts its money where its mouth is? I am yet to encounter one that is selling precisely what it promised. The institution that is supposed to be holding them accountable seems more interested in releasing statistics.