The article seems misleading: they keep insisting that the only innovation we have is software because that's how we want it. As if, investors and entrepreneurs only have interest in producing software. As if, we don't see the enormous potential for innovation in other industries which much bigger problems (education, housing, transportation and medical). As if, no one wants to do anything about it.

I've mentioned this before. Just look at what happens when a company wants to do even the slightest bit of innovation: and put a few buses on the road in the bay area. they're not asking for much, just a few buses. And they were shut down immediately, denying society the benefits of lower traffic and less pollution. With that kind of government/voter attitude, you can't go blaming innovators for just producing yet another lame software app.

How many permits would be required to create a factory that produces millions of masks? And, what about housing and transportation: these are industries that are absolutely unassailable. in it's current state of regulation, a potential entrepreneur or company, couldn't even begin to imagine any innovation.

The solution is for government to start talking to industry, and businesses to find out which regulations are preventing innovation and progress. You first need to make innovation possible before it can happen. Until then, it's just going to be yet another software app.