Friday, May 15, 2009

We don't have this in Vietnam

As I am working in the IT business, I often wondered why certain technology is not used here. Especially when it comes to websites. When I ask people why they don't use news technologies to design a website, they often answer "we don't have this in Vietnam".

Which is just not true: Since the Internet age information is available all over the world. Even people in China know about using < div > instead of < table >, and I know people in Myanmar aware of the fact that a ticker on a website is a No.

But I still see a lot of really bad professional websites. What's the reason?

Thesis 1: Most of the technology knowledge came by Vietnamese people from overseas. They brought heir knowledge, started companies some years ago and didn't learn more.

Thesis 2: Like most books in school also books about web technology are old and outdated. People learn knowledge from the 90ies.

Thesis 3: As long as it works it's ok. Like the lack of quality in other sectors, people don't care so much about a good and well designed website.

Anyway, there may be more reasons, but for sure the excuse "We don't have it" is just too simple. Designguides a free in the internet, blogs about technology are in place since years, even conferences like barcamps are available. so it leeds to

Thesis 4: It's just an excuse, nothing more.

Too close this blog post with the godfather of podcasting and conspiracy, Adam Curry:

There Are No Secrets, Only Information You Don't Yet Have

13 comments:

David Everitt-Carlson said...

A simpler way to describe this is "stupidity".

jan said...

i would go for reason 3 as it fits to many other areas where more than "just enough" does not seem to be necessary.
maybe a lack of understanding what a well designed website will bring as avantages...

thomas said...

Ok, I like to start a discussion here, it's a thesis and something I saw, doesn't mean I have the whole picture. So proof that I am wrong please!

David Everitt-Carlson said...

I had one person leave the "Siliconmunist" group on Facebook because I don't think they liked the mandate of having to create something new and original. Toop scary - when I can just copy a template and change the colours and words!

Tyler (Tuan) Nguyen said...

I do have some thesis, too:

1. maybe you don't meet the right enthusiastic people. I know some are very passionate about change and learning.

2. I guess they don't have enough time and cash to invest in studying new techniques. You know, as long as it works, why put more cash and effort in it while we can use those cash to invest into something else and make more money.

David Everitt-Carlson said...

I've never met anyone in an administrative position at any school or university in Vietnam who gives a damn about change or learning. Change and learning new things are a threat to the old way and all of the schools I've seen (all the way up to RMIT) are stuck in the old way.

Tyler (Tuan) Nguyen said...

You are right! School and university are full of old professor. They care to hold their positions rather than learning new technology. It's corruption, man. I don't know we do you work at. But there are still young people who go study abroad or at least Aptech in Vietnam seek for change and adapt new technique. I used to, but I changed my major, though.

David Everitt-Carlson said...

Tuan; See this http://wildwildeastdailies.blogspot.com/2009/05/our-schools-kills-creativity-sir-ken.html

We are not alone!

Tyler (Tuan) Nguyen said...

seems like it happens everywhere. It is the basic of the society. We do have some people obey and some are creative no matter how the education system is.

You should meet more young entreprenuers and ITs, they are prettey good at learning new technology.

http://www.vietter.com, such as this.

David Everitt-Carlson said...

Hold it! Vietter is a Twitter clone. You know I'm no fan of clones.

Tyler (Tuan) Nguyen said...

Sorry man! It's just a simple game. Have you watched "Pirates of the Silicon Valley"? We are all stealing idea from other source. Remember, Apple stole the mouse idea from Xerox, and Microsoft stole the Interface from Apple.

I know it's rude, but it's just a game. Vietter from Twitter is not different. As long as you make money and the community use it.

One day, I'll steal ideas from your blog, too. keke....

David Everitt-Carlson said...

Do I have anything worth stealing? Hehe...

Tyler (Tuan) Nguyen said...

Don't worry, I'll find what I need. hehe...