Bottoms up

It feels wrong. It seems like technology has become something that we wait for. That we react to. Yes, we have plenty of powerful technology at our disposal but what I'm talking about is different. I read Gizmodo and Engadget and it's like I'm just waiting for the next cool thing. Maybe it's me but I hate that model. It's an authoritarian model. It's a top down, "you will take what I give you" model. Are we to believe that all the good ideas will come from Nokia, IBM, Microsoft, DoCoMo and other similarly overweight corporations? Or from the highly caffienated ranks of VC-funded startups? Don't you believe it. I can decide for myself what I want in a technology product. Why do I need to buy the 400 distinct features when all I really want is 2. Or conversely, what if what I want is not included in ANY product on the market? I think there is a preponderance of old-school thinking when it comes to technology consumption. We have been taught throughout the years to sit still as a rapt audience waiting for the next act. We must not mistake ourselves as actors on stage. We may contribute our "feedback" but don't assume it means anything. I can't believe that I'm alone in feeling this. There are many other facets of modern life where this is not the case. For example, home improvement, gardening, cooking, any of the arts, etc. - all of these are bottoms up. You decide what you want to make. You decide what "features" to include. All include "technology" of some sort but the tools have been reduced to a set of components useable by all. If you want to get into bottoms up high tech you first need a degree in electrical engineering then you need a soldering iron. No problem. Open source initiatives are terrific, but you still need serious technical chops to take advantage and participate in that world. I feel there is an opportunity to flip the equation on its head. The American Revolution was inspired by the same feelings. Could there be a revolution in the making here too?