well, german tech is not really into the business of targeting consumers. You can critizise it, but you can't deny that germany has a large high-tech industry. I was making the observation that the tech industry in germany is quite spread out and that the solutions here could be applicable to rural america.
That IT is lagging behind in Germany is something that is known, but it affects more corporations in adopting new innovations. For example, I know many companies couldn't yet make a decision about ChatGPT because of GDPR concerns. As a normal user, I haven't felt much limitations in using new products and technologies in Germany.
I've found Germany is even more backwards for consumer-facing tech. I frequently have to pay with cash at businesses here, and of course make sure to always have a coin on you for the shopping cart at the grocery store! Additionally, websites for German institutions are markedly behind what I was used to in the states (e.g. elementary schools), they all still rely heavily on phone calls and letters, and I still had people giving me photos burned on CD's, or emailing them to me one photo at a time. Software/internet UX in general just seems very behind, too.
That's not to say that Germany is less advanced than the US as a whole, but when it comes to consumer-facing software stuff, it feels substantially behind.
Yeah, I read about that. In the comments here. But they aren’t in Germany, and I don’t expect them to arrive here for quite some time. We are very technology-conservative.
It exists but I think it's undeniable that Germany is behind in many digital aspects, even in advertising. I think part of that is cultural (credit card acceptance and advertising being good examples) and another part existing bureaucracy.
He's referring to the consumer tech market place. When's the last time a German company launched a piece of consumer hardware that had worldwide market share?
Well (just reading the headline) I certainly wouldn't wanna be making a hobby device targeting the German market... sure if this only applies to companies who have been in business for X years and/or are selling Y+ devices.
I'm not sure it's been in Michigan in a long time. Somewhere in Germany probably, based on the number of "xxxx shows new technology" headlines I've seen.
As a firstborn American nerd with 100% German ancestors, it’s basically been frustrating my entire life to watch Germany whiff on basically any computer- or Internet-related technology. I can't even attribute it to the language barrier since they're all taught English at an early age. Perhaps it's that old German pride/hubris/NIH? “Stolz”… They’re a very smart people, not sure what gives. Perhaps a lack of respect for “nerd” aesthetic
If you ever visit Germany, prepare to not be impressed by their Internet access (but possibly impressed by everything else)
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