The creeping miracle of technology...

Edwin · Mar 8, 2014

I was in a reflective mood this morning, so I wrote this:
http://www.webmastering.co.uk/uncategorized/the-creeping-miracle-of-technology/

Alien · Mar 8, 2014

Nice little piece Edwin.

Murray · Mar 8, 2014

I remember being about 9 in junior school, the teacher said

"In the future you will be able to order your food shopping on the computer and it will be delivered to your home"

That seemed an incredible/unimaginable thing to me at the time (I think because I hated having to help my mum carry home food shopping from tesco)

And now here we are

websaway · Mar 8, 2014

Murray said:
I remember being about 9 in junior school, the teacher said

"In the future you will be able to order your food shopping on the computer and it will be delivered to your home"

That seemed an incredible/unimaginable thing to me at the time (I think because I hated having to help my mum carry home food shopping from tesco)

And now here we are

I assume the car had not been invented when you were nine

websaway · Mar 8, 2014

Edwin said:
I was in a reflective mood this morning, so I wrote this:
http://www.webmastering.co.uk/uncategorized/the-creeping-miracle-of-technology/

I like the way it creates focus on the unbelievable jump forward in such a short space of time.
Was there any single invention, any overwhelming discovery that can be attributed to creating the leap ?
When people say there is no supreme being, no force that sees all and knows all, I have to smile, .
When you add infinity to what can be achieved from a standing start in such a short period of time, there is nothing inconceivable.

mat · Mar 8, 2014

When I see parents now taking pictures of their young children on mobile phones, it always amazes me that they are smiling at the device fully knowing what it is and what it is doing, before they can really even walk and talk.

It is really amazing to think that these gadgets are part of their life from the second they are born and it is completely normal for them. I am only 28 but if someone had pointed a mobile phone at me even at the age of 15, I would have wondered what the hell they were doing!

Alien · Mar 8, 2014

I still think our computer chip birth and related technology has been 'acquired' from elsewhere (maybe Aliens or future humans?!).

Murray · Mar 8, 2014

Thinking back on technology and what it was like even 20 years ago It always amazes me that we were able to put a man on the moon in 1969.. just doesn't seem realistic.

Edwin · Mar 8, 2014

Glad to see my little piece stimulating a good discussion. Even a decade makes a huge difference in tech terms.

For example, if you're under 30, there has always been a "home computer" (even if you didn't personally have one in your own home) Equally, if you're under 30, music has "always" come on CD (or as a bitstream). Whereas I can vaguely remember a time before computers and I certainly spun LPs as a kid.

Scary thought: teenagers who are 14 or younger have never experienced the 20th century. I bet reading that suddenly made you feel REALLY old - regardless of how old you are!

RobM · Mar 8, 2014

Some of us are over 40 Edwin

We climbed trees, played cricket etc. The speed of technological advancement is scary at times.

Edwin · Mar 8, 2014

RobM said:
Some of us are over 40 Edwin We climbed trees, played cricket etc. The speed of technological advancement is scary at times.

Hey, I'm over 40!

julian · Mar 8, 2014

That's a touching article Edwin, but we both know there's been a depressed rate of decent technological progress since 1970.

What was the device by the way.. iphone?

sdsinc · Mar 8, 2014

Yet people are getting dumber and dumber, another miracle

Edwin · Mar 8, 2014

julian said:
What was the device by the way.. iphone?

Good guess (though it could just as easily have been an Android phone).

iamrofe · Mar 9, 2014

Imagine going back in time and telling someone that we have all knowledge known to man available on a small device, yet instead of using it do something useful, lots people decide to play a game on it called flappy bird.

LordBull · Mar 10, 2014

Thought provoking indeed Edwin, thanks for posting

This becomes more telling in the "teens" or whatever this decade is called:
http://www.englishforums.com/English/DoRemember/wmqx/post.htm

and looking for it online, I came across this:
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/81416705735880953/

(if your over 40 you'll chuckle - if not, you might just think WTF are all these objects !)

Have a good week all

LB

diablo · Mar 10, 2014

iamrofe said:
imagine going back in time and telling someone that we have all knowledge known to man available on a small device, yet instead of using it do something useful, lots people decide to play a game on it called flappy bird.

huge +1