Aren't There Any Real Problems Left To Solve?

The title of the blog-post is "Aren’t There Real Problems To Solve?", which is something completely differnet than "Aren't There Any Real Problems Left To Solve?". The latter sounds like a rhethorical question that suggests that progress has come to an end. The first one is a really good one (and I therefore recommend the blog-posting): are we often trying to solve problems that was caused by technology that not even solved a real problem. Are we getting into a problem-solving spiral that feeds itself?

"Aren’t There Real Problems To Solve?"<p>I have always spent a lot of my time in small or midsize companies (10 to 200 employees), and I can assure you the answer is ABSOLUTELY.<p>These are hard working people who are in a different world than most of the readers here. They don't facebook, twitter, or IM at work. But they are unbelieveably busy trying to get things done while depending upon software and systems that most of us here would laugh at.<p>Many of them don't have time to get to all their emails and voice mails. They have to make snap decisions all day long without enough information because their software just doesn't give them what they need easily enough. They have constant problems with interpersonal communication, instruction, and understanding.<p>Just a sample of what I've witnessed in the past 3 weeks:<p>- We need multiple "ship to" addresses for this institutional customer. The software doesn't support it.<p>- The exchange server is down.<p>- We need multiple prices for the same item, depending on the scenario. The shopping cart won't allow it.<p>- 300 "smart part numbers" were configured incorrectly because no one gave Jane the correct Vendor Codes last week. But now, we have orders, inventory, and history for those items, so the software won't let us change or delete them.<p>- The exchange server is down.<p>- No one remembered to reset the warehouse server last night, so everything came in today with the wrong date.<p>- The new stockroom printer doesn't support HP PCL, so the bar code labels are all wrong.<p>- We think that $90,000 order acknowledgement from XYZ Company was deleted by the spam filter, but we're not sure.<p>- There was a bad pointer in the UPS data base last Tuesday, so 72 packages all went to the same customer in Duluth.<p>- The wrong 800 number is being printed on our invoices. Our customers are calling a sex hotline.<p>- The exchange server is down.<p>These are not jokes. I see them all the time. And while we regale all the cool stuff WE are doing, I can honestly say that the situation in many small businesses hasn't improved all that much. And there are 7 million of them. They need help.<p>The good news? This is a fantastic opportunity for those with our skills and technology.<p>Yes, there are plenty of real problems to solve. Stay tuned.

I think what Spalding wants to get at is the fact that as entrepreneurs, we're overlooking the real change that we can induce at the whims of the VC community. There are other ways to finance. There are other ways to innovate. Isn't it time that we decided to take action on this "problem"?<p>I think that there are plenty of problems to tackle, especially in the way we handle information. Let's get out there and change the world.

Lately I have noticed there aren't ANY new sites out that are really revolutionary. Only minor tweaks on whats currently available. A bit disappointing;/

Of course there are, but I have to say that problems will be solved when they are painful enough for people to pay for a solution, or to work one themselves, (opensource).

There are lots of people who need food and water. They might like a solution to their starving to death and have no water problem.