<div dir="ltr">Hi Pat,<br>To say that computing hasn't changed much since the 1980's is to take a short term view. Now that the enablement layer issue is being seriously addressed, mobile computing is on the rise. Look at the old machines from the '80s and then at an iPhone. In particular the Enterprise apps for Blackberry and iPhone such as presentation software, and accounting packages.<br>
<br>Is the need to be freed from a desktop a need or a desire? I would say
a "need" and that the whole of humanities health if not evolution
depends on us moving from fixed sedentary interfaces to ambient environmental ones.<br><br>But we still have a long way to go. Currently sit-down-at-monitor still rules. That has to change. So does the declarative nature of computing - using a PC at the moment is like opening a door. You have to make the decision to open the door, walk to the door, turn the knob, push the door and then walkthrough - my vision is that we make a decision to go through a door and it slides open. <br>
<br>Why is this a "need" not a "desire"? Because freeing humanity from repetitive tasks is a function of computers. To go so far, and not the rest of the way is to leave the job half done. <br><br>Here's the hi-res version of Playstation 9 from 2078. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vdh4TqWFfX4">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vdh4TqWFfX4</a> (let it load first, if you are on a slow network). Very amusing but informative. And no so far away - a company in Melbourne is developing brain to machine interfaces. Play makes us innovative. Innovation leads to real world benefits. Yes, mind interfaces may be originally developed for games (most technology is, originally) and "desires" but if it frees disabled to be able to connect then it benefits humanity as a whole.<br>
<br>It is a fundamental right of humans to tell the Human Narrative in creative form. Computers from even 3 years ago would not allow the Digital Natives (born to the 'net and YouTube) to create stories and innovate. They are not your dusty academics who struggle with MS Word and Internet Explorer. Do not judge their needs based on Digital Immigrants. <br>
<br>Television settled way to early for the lowest common denominator. Imagine the power if the TV had continued to evolve, to move beyond soap operas and evening 'news' tidbits into a medium for education and collaboration? We might have raised the bar for global intelligence. Or perhaps that is what computing has evolved into, that which television should have done. Yet TV stayed the same precisely because it is a "receiver" of broadcast. However, every computer has the power to "broadcast" - the democratization of production. <br>
<br>I think we will settle, for a basic operational machine, like a car that doesn't change much, in the future. But not yet. Maybe not in my lifetime. And nor should we. <br><br>I guess my main point is this: Innovation doesn't come from a need OR a desire. It comes from exploration and a need to push boundaries. This may create landfill and diminishing natural resources, but it may also free humanity from the cube farm at work, it may allow us to collaborate to resolve some of this critical Earth issues. It may not. That's the beauty and cruelty of innovation - the child today who creates a YouTube video may use that knowledge to progress interactive medicine of the future. Or they may not. <br>
<br>Please note, this email was written on a solar powered Macbook that I will never ever give up. Even when I can have a light/laser based 3D mind interface. heh. <br><br>Now, where's my drink? ??<br>Laurel<br>PS my first IDC email. I am still learning your culture, so be gentle, please. <br>
<br><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Sep 30, 2008 at 5:15 PM, Simon Biggs <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:s.biggs@eca.ac.uk">s.biggs@eca.ac.uk</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<div>
<font face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Hi Pat<br>
<br>
I would never suggest you are a luddite. I am arguing that technology is a social thing, that societies change and technology has to be (will inately be) responsive to that. Technologies that do not evolve become redundant. Your 50 year computer proposal looks attractive but how would you ensure it remains adaptable to unknown developments? I appreciate the argument that any system that is software based (as your system is) is more easily adapted to circumstances. However, software can only adapt in so far as the hardware platform it is based on enables it. Hardware independent computing is a nice idea – but I doubt it is realistic (ironically) at this juncture in the development of computing hardware.<br>
<br>
Are you drunk? ;)<br>
<br>
Regards<br><font color="#888888">
<br>
Simon</font><div><div></div><div class="Wj3C7c"><br>
<br>
<br>
On 29/9/08 21:59, "Patrick Lichty" <<a href="mailto:voyd@voyd.com" target="_blank">voyd@voyd.com</a>> wrote:<br>
<br>
</div></div></span></font><div><div></div><div class="Wj3C7c"><blockquote><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 12px;">I find it interesting that introducing such a polemic consistently creates this sort of response.<br>
Please read closer; note that I say that I have no real expectation of destroying Intel, but perhaps to create another class of computing, and shifting the crux of innovation to software craft. <br>
<br>
In addition, I also understand that technodeterminism will remain. I merely polemically question the real value of what we have done, and whether other models could be useful. <br>
<br>
I also argue that in many ways (not all), much of computer use since the 1980's has NOT fundamentally changed, given certain constraints.<br>
<br>
Ned Ludd has not channeled through me, lads. I'm thinking about sustainability, reduction of toxic production, streamlining of ubiquitous computation, futurism vs. 30-year old evolitionary trends, etc. I am not necessarily calling for my slide rule, but perhaps for my Gibsonian "Sandbenders" computer. While some are thinking that I am being regressive, I feel that this could be very forward thinking, if executed in the proper way.<br>
<br>
On another list, someone asked if I were drunk...<br>
<br>
Good, good!<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<b><br>
</b></span></font><blockquote><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b>Simon Biggs <<a href="mailto:s.biggs@eca.ac.uk" target="_blank">s.biggs@eca.ac.uk</a>> wrote:<br>
</b>John is right. Turing's idea of the universal machine works (as an idea) in so many contexts because it is both simple and low-tech.<br>
<br>
It could be argued that any socially relevant technology needs to change constantly, just like the society that produces (and is enabled by) it. I would cite language as a technology which is an exemplar of this. It is important that it is fixed enough that we can share a degree of understanding in its use. However, it is equally important that it is fluid and motile, allowing for new formations of signification and community. If it sometimes get broken or abused as a result of this – well, that's not so bad. It is part of change.<br>
<br>
Bill Gates may have argued that operating systems should be like the interfaces we employ to drive cars (all the same) but one can just look at this idea in practice (Windows) to see how wrong he was.<br>
<br>
One could argue that it is cars and traffic systems that are unsustainable in their fixity. I accept that without clear shared rules, that change with due preparation, our transport systems would cease to function (one outcome of this would be the use of less carbon and thus enhanced sustainability) however we have only had cars and roads, in their current high density/performance form, for less than one hundred years. That is not a long enough period of time to evaluate the sustainability of such a fixed system. In fact, it looks like as a system it will be redundant before we have that opportunity.<br>
<br>
The 2nd law of thermodynamics may be relevant here...<br>
<br>
Regards<br>
<br>
Simon<br>
<br>
<br>
On 29/9/08 04:38, "John Hopkins" <<a href="mailto:jhopkins@tech-no-mad.net" target="_blank">jhopkins@tech-no-mad.net</a>> wrote:<br>
<br>
</span></font><blockquote><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 12px;">>The 50-year Computer<br>
>Manifestos for Computational Sustainability, I<br>
><br>
>I have a proposition to make - when I am ready for my first mind/body<br>
>transplant in 2058, at age 95, I want to be using the same computer I am<br>
>today. Upon first look, both may seem outlandish by today's standards, but<br>
<br>
but this IS techno-determinism in the form of a 'sustainable-user-centered-design' exercise...<br>
<br>
fingers and toes and perhaps an abacus on the side should do nicely, or perhaps consider a slip-stick.<br>
<br>
jh<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
iDC -- mailing list of the Institute for Distributed Creativity (<a href="http://distributedcreativity.org" target="_blank">distributedcreativity.org</a>)<br>
<a href="mailto:iDC@mailman.thing.net" target="_blank">iDC@mailman.thing.net</a><br>
<a href="https://mailman.thing.net/mailman/listinfo/idc" target="_blank">https://mailman.thing.net/mailman/listinfo/idc</a><br>
<br>
List Archive:<br>
<a href="http://mailman.thing.net/pipermail/idc/" target="_blank">http://mailman.thing.net/pipermail/idc/</a><br>
<br>
iDC Photo Stream:<br>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/idcnetwork/" target="_blank">http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/idcnetwork/</a><br>
<br>
RSS feed:<br>
<a href="http://rss.gmane.org/gmane.culture.media.idc" target="_blank">http://rss.gmane.org/gmane.culture.media.idc</a><br>
<br>
iDC Chat on Facebook:<br>
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2457237647" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2457237647</a><br>
<br>
Share relevant URLs on <a href="http://Del.icio.us" target="_blank">Del.icio.us</a> by adding the tag iDCref<br>
</span></font></blockquote><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br>
<br>
<br>
Simon Biggs<br>
Research Professor<br>
<font color="#fe7700">edinburgh college of art<br>
</font>s.biggs@<font color="#fe7700">eca</font>.<a href="http://ac.uk" target="_blank">ac.uk</a><br>
www.<font color="#fe7700">eca</font>.<a href="http://ac.uk" target="_blank">ac.uk</a><br>
<br>
<a href="mailto:simon@littlepig.org.uk" target="_blank">simon@littlepig.org.uk</a><br>
<a href="http://www.littlepig.org.uk" target="_blank">www.littlepig.org.uk</a><br>
AIM/Skype: simonbiggsuk<br>
<br>
Edinburgh College of Art (eca) is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC009201<br>
<br>
<br>
</span></font></blockquote><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br>
</span></font></blockquote><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br>
<br>
<br>
Simon Biggs<br>
Research Professor<br>
<font color="#fe7700">edinburgh college of art<br>
</font>s.biggs@<font color="#fe7700">eca</font>.<a href="http://ac.uk" target="_blank">ac.uk</a><br>
www.<font color="#fe7700">eca</font>.<a href="http://ac.uk" target="_blank">ac.uk</a><br>
<br>
<a href="mailto:simon@littlepig.org.uk" target="_blank">simon@littlepig.org.uk</a><br>
<a href="http://www.littlepig.org.uk" target="_blank">www.littlepig.org.uk</a><br>
AIM/Skype: simonbiggsuk<br>
</span></font>
<br>
<pre>Edinburgh College of Art (eca) is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC009201
</pre><br>
<br></div></div></div>
<br>_______________________________________________<br>
iDC -- mailing list of the Institute for Distributed Creativity (<a href="http://distributedcreativity.org" target="_blank">distributedcreativity.org</a>)<br>
<a href="mailto:iDC@mailman.thing.net">iDC@mailman.thing.net</a><br>
<a href="https://mailman.thing.net/mailman/listinfo/idc" target="_blank">https://mailman.thing.net/mailman/listinfo/idc</a><br>
<br>
List Archive:<br>
<a href="http://mailman.thing.net/pipermail/idc/" target="_blank">http://mailman.thing.net/pipermail/idc/</a><br>
<br>
iDC Photo Stream:<br>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/idcnetwork/" target="_blank">http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/idcnetwork/</a><br>
<br>
RSS feed:<br>
<a href="http://rss.gmane.org/gmane.culture.media.idc" target="_blank">http://rss.gmane.org/gmane.culture.media.idc</a><br>
<br>
iDC Chat on Facebook:<br>
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2457237647" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2457237647</a><br>
<br>
Share relevant URLs on <a href="http://Del.icio.us" target="_blank">Del.icio.us</a> by adding the tag iDCref<br></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>************************<br>Laurel Papworth<br>Social Networks Strategist<br>
PH. 0432 684992<br><br>Social Networks and Online Communities Blog: <a href="http://silkcharm.blogspot.com">http://silkcharm.blogspot.com</a><br>Business Website: <a href="http://www.laurelpapworth.com">http://www.laurelpapworth.com</a><br>
Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/silkcharm">http://twitter.com/silkcharm</a><br>Second Life: SilkCharm Sachertorte<br><br>Creative Commons Copyright: all rights reserved World Communities ABN 40 117 028 734<br>
</div>