Is the U.S. backward in applying technology?
“U.S. needs lesson from China on technology.”
Now, there’s a statement to make those who are convinced of American technological superiority sit up. Steven Schwankert of IDG News Service has an article with that title. He has been living abroad and argues that technology in the U.S. resembles that of a developing nation.
As an American who has lived abroad for a decade, going back to the U.S. is a mixed blessing. The bagels are better, the Chinese food is terrible, and for the most part, the technology is entirely third world. That’s right. Technology in the U.S., perhaps excluding Silicon Valley, is like that of a developing nation.
He lists a number of examples and goes on to say
More and more, I look forward to my return to Beijing. At home I have broadband that costs me US$149 per year. My mobile works swimmingly, even if it’s only a prepaid account. I can carry on working at any number of wi-fi enabled restaurants and cafes throughout the city. I can’t say any of these things for my recent visits to Massachusetts, New Jersey, or New York.
It is true that there is better broadband sevice in many places than in the US. Those countries don’t have the proliferation of private cable and phone companies that we have. As far as China is concerned, however, I wonder how Schwankert likes having the Internet and his email censored by the Chinese government.