The Real Target Audience for VMworld Announcements: A Different Perspective

Another VMworld US has come and gone, leaving behind a trail of new announcements and eager attendees trying to absorb all the latest news. As a member of the tech community, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of new products, services, and buzzwords. However, as we reflect on this year’s conference, it’s important to remember that we may not be the target audience for these announcements.

We, as members of the tech community, live and breathe this stuff on a daily basis. We participate in beta programs, have our fingers on the pulse 24/7, and often have a pretty good idea what is going to be announced before it’s even made official. It’s easy to get caught up in our own perceived reality, one that is often years ahead of the real targets: end users and customers.

The announcements made at a conference like VMworld serve more than one purpose, but the main purpose is to generate buzz and interest in new products and services. While we can talk about Software Defined Data Centers, All-Flash-Arrays, and DevOps until we turn blue, it’s important to remember that these topics may not be the reality that our customers live in day to day.

The state of things as they actually exist is often very different from the idealistic or notional ideas we as tech oligarchs live in. It’s important to take a step back and reflect on the real world, where end users and customers are just starting to catch up with the bleeding edge reality we live in.

Instead of getting caught up in the announcements and buzzwords, it’s important to remember that we are fortunate enough to live on the very bleeding edge of technology. We have the power to help change the direction it takes in the future. So, let’s take a break from the constant barrage of new products and services, and put our ear on the tracks to listen for the train that is coming.

It’s kinda neat, isn’t it? The reality is, we are in a position to help shape the future of technology. Let’s not get hit by the train of progress because we didn’t bother checking. vNinja.net is the digital home of Christian Mohn and Stine Elise Larsen, and it’s a place where we can continue to push the boundaries of what we can do, and how we can do it.