We envision the future all the time.
We picture how things are likely to look, react, and in particular, sound. Even before the music starts I can predict the need for earplugs when I see a giant array of PA speakers at a live event.
Prediction is innate. It helped us plan our hunting and survival strategies when those mattered. But preconceptions can also be stumbling blocks that predetermine our approach to the new: half full or half empty? If I tell you to check out a new technology that has a great chance you might like it, you’re likely more enthused than if I had said there’s a small chance you won’t. Same data, different results.
One of the most difficult life lessons for me has been the erasure of the preconceived notion when approaching new technologies. If I can focus on cleansing my mind of long-held guardrails for or against something, I save a hell of a lot of time in the evaluation process.
There’s wisdom in that old saying “keep an open mind”.
As we’re working on the feature set for our new transport, due out in 2020, I have to remind myself of our propensity to prejudge features before we ever have a chance to experience them. When I suggest we’ll have a non-destructive, phase perfect, EQ system that can turn weak recordings into jewels in the same way a remastering engineer works his sonic magic, I get furrowed brows narrowing to a point between the eyes.
I know it’s hard.
