Ask HN: What industry needs technical innovation?

Today, in the office, we had a brief discussion of some of the industries or fields that seem to have had relatively little technical innovation over the past decade. Some industries seem to be getting a lot of attention from technical minds these days (e.g. the power grid, alternative fuels, etc.); others seem more stagnant and some may not stand to gain a lot from technological advancements.

But, I'm curious to hear others' opinions. What industries are using technology and practices that are antiquated?

All of them.

Under that light, the world is full of opportunities.

Ahhhhh, that's true, but I guess I was thinking less philosophically.

In theory I agree that you are right, but in the application of computer science, we are at a much better place today than we were 20 years ago.

As someone who works as an IT person in the Mental Health industry I'd nominate that industry. Mental Health has all the problems of regular health care times 10.

To give the most basic example, there is no formalized charting system in the Mental Health Industry. You have standardized notes that are turned into the county but that's about it.

The industry I work in (treatment of abused children who have been removed from the home) has a 96% fail rate in California. That means 96% of the children entrusted to the state end up in jail or dead by the age of 25 (as of 2003). So if ever there was an industry that needed technology's help it's this one.