Chapter 28. The Purpose of Technology

In general:

When technology attempts to solve problems of matter, energy, space, or time, it is successful. When it attempts to solve human problems of the mind, communication, ability, etc. it fails or backfires dangerously.

For example, the Internet handled a great problem of space – it allowed us to communicate with anybody in the world, instantly. However, it did not make us better communicators. In fact, it took many poor communicators and gave them a massive platform on which they could spread hatred and fear.

This isn't me saying that the Internet is all bad – I'm actually quite fond of it, personally. I'm just giving an example to demonstrate what types of problems technology does and does not solve successfully.

The reason this principle, or rule, is useful is that it tells us in advance what kind of software purposes or startup ideas are more likely to be successful.

Companies that focus on solving human problems...