On the scale of innovation, it's important to note that a computer program will never be a flying car, or antigravity, or a cure for cancer. It won't be anything physical, by definition. For the most part the total output of any application can be specified as a sequence of pixel bitmaps, and the utility of that sequence is subjectively measured by the person interacting with it. Applications can't do any more than acquire data and generate bitmaps. I only say this to emphasize that it's important to set your expectations before getting "disappointed" in the state of software innovation.
The other thing about innovation in software is the need to distinguish between application development as distinct from computer science. Writing an application is very different from writing an algorithm! Much of the "boring innovation" happening right now is about application development, not computer science. Once we accept this we can start making clearer calls about what kind of innovation we think is stagnating.
The other thing about innovation in software is the need to distinguish between application development as distinct from computer science. Writing an application is very different from writing an algorithm! Much of the "boring innovation" happening right now is about application development, not computer science. Once we accept this we can start making clearer calls about what kind of innovation we think is stagnating.