Tech Dirt

(interview with Tech Dirt) -

Where do you see most of the research and development dollars going in the technology world?

These days there's a ton of interest in cleantech, which likely needs pretty significant capital investment to come out with the necessary breakthroughs.

What are some promising/exciting new technological releases you see being released in the near future?

I'm very interested in how touchscreen interfaces will evolve. For all of the "wow factor" people have with the multitouch interface on the iPhone I think we've barely scratched the surface on opportunities to use touchscreens in innovative ways.

Which companies do you think are currently the leaders in the tech world?

Google and Amazon. Everyone knows about Google, but Amazon doesn't get nearly enough credit for its webservices work. It's like they've stealthily built the infrastructure for all the next great internet companies and nobody recognizes it.

What up and coming companies do you see out there that are worth keeping an eye on?

Besides my own? Keep an eye on us. Floor64 has some very cool things coming out in 2009.

Also, I know a lot of people bash Twitter for its lack of business model, but I think the folks over there are smart enough to figure out something special in terms of business model.

What do you think 2009 has in store for tech companies?

Well, like much of the rest of the world, a return to sanity in most areas. Less hype, less features without a business and more heads-down focus on useful innovation. Capital will be tougher to come by, but good people will be available, and the continued march of cheaper technology will still make it easier than ever for startups to get going with very little capital. I'm still expecting plenty of innovation, just with less hype than before. Good things come out of down economies, and this will be no different.

How long have you been blogging?

Since 1997... So over 11 years. It wasn't even called blogging back then...

What got your started blogging?

I was in business school and interested in the tech field, and it seemed like a good way to keep up on important developments.

What is the focus of your blog, i.e. how does it set you apart from the other bloggers out there?

We're very focused on opinion and analysis, rather than straight news. I don't care about new companies or product launches or new gadgets. There are plenty of tech blogs that cover that. I'm much more concerned with the big trends that will impact our economy and innovation. So, issues having to do with public policy, intellectual property and major trend lines are more important to me than yet another new mobile phone or web widget being launched.

Also, pretty much any post we do will have our opinion spelled out quite clearly. If we don't have an opinion on something there's no reason for us to write about it.

What is it you hope a reader will come away with when they visit your blog?

That they'll find something insightful or think about something differently than they did before -- whether or not they agree with us.

Do you like to be edgy in your posts and try and stir up some controversy?

No. I have no interest in stirring up controversy -- I just express my opinion.

What do you think about bloggers who have this kind of approach

I don't think anything about it. Anyone else can do what they want on their own blog. That's what's great about blogging.