Accelerando
Jul. 11th, 2004 12:03 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
andrewduckerJust looking at this history of Sky (PDF). For USians, Sky is the UK satellite television broadcaster.
Launched 1989 - 4 channels.
May 1994 - Ten years ago - MTV first appears.
Nobody is going to tell me that the world hasn't immeasurably changed since then.
In 1995 Microsoft launched Windows 95. The biggest software launch ever, and the first to make an impact on the mass populace.
It had no web browser. In fact, it had links to MSN, Microsoft's own bulletin board system, designed to be in competition with Compuserve and AOL. Yup, that's right, Microsoft didn't consider the internet to be important.
Less than ten years ago.
Anyone here want to think about how easy the internet makes their lives on a daily basis?
Anyone want to go back to not using email? Not buying things over the web? Not having this huge information resource at the tips of their fingers.
Less than ten years.
Where will you be in 2014?
Because I have _no_ idea.
Launched 1989 - 4 channels.
May 1994 - Ten years ago - MTV first appears.
Nobody is going to tell me that the world hasn't immeasurably changed since then.
In 1995 Microsoft launched Windows 95. The biggest software launch ever, and the first to make an impact on the mass populace.
It had no web browser. In fact, it had links to MSN, Microsoft's own bulletin board system, designed to be in competition with Compuserve and AOL. Yup, that's right, Microsoft didn't consider the internet to be important.
Less than ten years ago.
Anyone here want to think about how easy the internet makes their lives on a daily basis?
Anyone want to go back to not using email? Not buying things over the web? Not having this huge information resource at the tips of their fingers.
Less than ten years.
Where will you be in 2014?
Because I have _no_ idea.
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no subject
Date: 2004-07-10 08:58 pm (UTC)I just watched "Cable Guy" on TV -- it came out in 1996. The Great Big Moment at the end consisted of the cable going out right as a verdict in a hot trial was going to be announced. All the people in the city were left staring at their TV horrified that they would not find out if the actor had been found guilty or innocent.
I watched it and laughed. My computer is next to the TV -- I could have found out instantly what the verdict was -- along with background stories, pictures, jokes, cartoons and fan fiction.
Yes, today is a new day. God knows what the next decade will bring.
no subject
Date: 2004-07-11 12:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-11 01:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-11 09:52 am (UTC)Not too long ago I was reading that (in theory) scientists had succeeded in teleportation. [Sadly not involving Seth Brundle or Vincent Price].
Yay for science!