---
title: "Open Question: What Tech Stories Do YOU Want to Read?"
date: 2011-08-18
author: "Richard MacManus"
categories:
  - name: "ReadWriteWeb"
    url: "/category/readwriteweb.md"
tags:
  - name: "2011"
    url: "/tag/2011.md"
---

# Open Question: What Tech Stories Do YOU Want to Read?

![](https://web.archive.org/web/20120207163055im_/http://rww.readwriteweb.netdna-cdn.com/images/pink_lady_blogging.jpg)Yesterday I wrote about [the lack of big ideas in tech media](https://web.archive.org/web/20120207163055/http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/tech_media_obsessed_with_deals_rumors_bring_back_ideas.php), in response to a [New York Times op-ed](https://web.archive.org/web/20120207163055/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/14/opinion/sunday/the-elusive-big-idea.html) about the “post-idea world.” I basically complained that there is too much mindless pap on [Techmeme](https://web.archive.org/web/20120207163055/http://techmeme.com/) these days, most of it about business deals and rumors. Where are the “big idea” articles about technology, I wondered.

It’s all very well moaning about the state of things, but we at ReadWriteWeb aspire to be a part of **the solution** too. So I’m going to ask an open question and I’d really appreciate any and all responses to it. Ideally by leaving a comment here on RWW. Alternatively: reply on Twitter (to [@RWW](https://web.archive.org/web/20120207163055/http://twitter.com/RWW)), comment on the [RWW Facebook Page](https://web.archive.org/web/20120207163055/http://www.facebook.com/readwriteweb), or leave a comment on [my Google Plus profile](https://web.archive.org/web/20120207163055/https://plus.google.com/104458801156000551882/posts). The question is simply this: **what technology topics or ideas would you like to read about?**

I’ll start the ball rolling by listing 5 people who inspire me with big ideas; along with recent examples of their work.

- Tim O’Reilly recently [wrote a post](https://web.archive.org/web/20120207163055/http://radar.oreilly.com/2011/08/missing-maps-fragility-digital.html) detailing how online mapping products let him down when he needed them most. Tim’s thinking about just about anything is worth reading, but in recent times **location technology** has been one of his most interesting topics.
- John Battelle wrote [a couple](https://web.archive.org/web/20120207163055/http://battellemedia.com/archives/2011/08/twitter_and_the_ultimate_algorithm_signal_over_noise_with_major_business_model_implications) of [posts](https://web.archive.org/web/20120207163055/http://battellemedia.com/archives/2011/08/more_on_twitters_great_opportunityproblem.php) this month outlining his thoughts on this question: can Twitter solve its signal to noise problem? That’s a topic I find compelling: **filtering the noise of social media**.
- danah boyd wrote a blog post earlier this month entitled [Designing for Social Norms (or How Not to Create Angry Mobs)](https://web.archive.org/web/20120207163055/http://www.zephoria.org/thoughts/archives/2011/08/05/design-social-norms.html). **UX design** has been an interest of mine this year, particularly given the raft of new devices we have now – smartphones, iPad, Internet TV, etc.
- Kevin Kelly, whose book [What Technology Wants](https://web.archive.org/web/20120207163055/http://www.kk.org/books/what-technology-wants.php) I thoroughly [enjoyed](https://web.archive.org/web/20120207163055/http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/what_technology_wants_kevin_kelly_theory_of_evolution.php) earlier this year, wrote [a blog post](https://web.archive.org/web/20120207163055/http://www.kk.org/thetechnium/archives/2011/07/your_two_things.php) based on the following question: in ten years from now, how many gadgets will people carry? The **evolution of gadgets**, fascinating topic!
- Fred Wilson is a VC whose blog I consistently enjoy. His [recent post about HTML5](https://web.archive.org/web/20120207163055/http://www.avc.com/a_vc/2011/08/html5-continued.html) showed that an article doesn’t need to be lengthy and text-heavy to be thought-provoking. **Native apps vs. browser-based apps**, a big issue that many technology and media companies are grappling with these days.

Those are just 5 of many people whose ideas inspire me, along with a recent post each wrote on a big tech idea.

Now I’d love to hear your thoughts on this question: **what technology topics or ideas would you like to read about?**

*Image credit: [Foxtongue](https://web.archive.org/web/20120207163055/http://www.flickr.com/photos/foxtongue/24720422/)*

*Originally published on ReadWriteWeb ([archived copy](https://web.archive.org/web/20020204040018/http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/what_tech_stories_do_you_want_to_read.php))*