Quote:
Originally Posted by Z-man
- Henry Petroski The Evolution of Useful Things 1990.
Do you think this quote is still true today?
Here's a snapshot of technology from 1990:
* Operating systems: Windows 3.0 and the original Apple Macintosh was around.
* DVD's were still 5 years away (1995)
*Cell phones? Early GSM service was a year away from being adopted in Europe.
Beepers were more popular than cell phones
*Gaming consoles:
- Nintendo Super NES came out in 1990-1991 (16-bit gaming console)
- Sega Genesis also came out in 1991
- The original Sony Playstation was introduced in 1993.
*Hand held games:
- Game Boy (8-bit early monochrome LCD technology)
- Atari Lynx
*Tivo/DVR technology was 9 years away (introduced in 1999)
So -- is this quote still valid today, 20 years later? If it is still true, where do you fit in? Are you too old? Too young?
I'll reserve my thoughts on this for later...
Discuss...
-Z-man.
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There is another aspect to this. Professionally, I have needed to keep up with the latest and fastest computers. In 1990 I had a 12 mhz 386, win 3.0, with a 20 meg hard drive. Personally, I had/have no need or desire for a computer, games, or phones.
today, I have a cell phone, but still no games or toys. My office computer is a 3.2 gig Mac with a couple of 500 gig drives, 6 gigs of memory, OS 10.6, blah, blah. Personally prefer older stuff. I have an iphone only because the office bought me one. I'd rather pour babbit bearings in a 1923 Fordson than learn how to use it, so it's only used for phone (and email when I'm on the road). I've often wondered why they made phones that can take pictures - I'd rather have a vacuum cleaner that will take out the trash.