The rapid growth of the technology industry itself, amazing as it is, grossly understates the total value of technology on our economy in whole. Technology helps all businesses, from farms to retailers, become more productive. When productivity is increased, incomes rise but without the inflation that traditionally accompanies growth. The economic prosperity that has resulted has driven the unemployment rate to historic lows and made it easier for people to find and keep work. All income levels, in fact, saw real increases in income between 1992 and 1996.
Technology is a consumer's best friend.
Consumers have never had the information or the time to retrieve and digest the information necessary to truly make the best choice. Technology and the Internet is changing that. Not only can you read evaluations of products, compare prices and components of products, but consumers can even find where the product is sold near them and at what price. With so much information available, the market will begin to look a little more like a farmers market where prices may fluctuate in a day as competing cherry sellers keep tabs on their competitors. Naturally, this helps the consumer who does the research, but it even helps even the consumers who don't do the research because they will enjoy the benefits of lower prices too.