Excellent overview, and I agree with your analysis. (So good that I added a link to it on my page of Keepers.) Like you, I've lived through this and experienced most of it first-hand. In my eyes, the tide turned in a big way due to two things: personal computing and the 'web (http/HTML/all the rest). Up to then, the network was a fairly quiet kinda scholarly place inhabited by geeks. But in the 1990s, the web evolved into a monster that ate us all. (I still remember when billboards began, usually in small type in a corner, sporting these "www" thingies.) Commodification showed everyone "thars gold in them thar hills." And here we are.
One line that caught my attention because I've been thinking along similar lines was: "That people actually prefer simple interactions - clicks and likes - to something more meaningful and insightful." I've come to think recognizing the desire for simplicity is key to understanding a lot of our modern reductionist culture. We're encouraged to think in memes, icons, and aspirational/inspirational homilies.
As an aside, thinking about the past of computing made me remember the first computer I owned — a Timex Sinclar 1000. Well, that was the first *electronic* computer I owned. Back in the late 1960s, I had a Digi-Comp I — a three-bit plastic manually operated actually programmable "computer". (I think I still have both somewhere.)
I really appreciated reading this historical view of how we got lost in technology, and I look forward to the next installment. There is so much of this tech that I only use in a marginal way, and I grieve the attention deficit. Years ago, I heard someone lament, "I wish I had my pre-internet brain again," and I understood that exactly! Still worth learning how we got here. Thanks for this journey and your depth of knowledge from inside.
Thank you for taking me back in time and for all of the stats as well. I would be happy going back to the 70's for many reasons. Roller skates and skateboard in hand.
For your next article I hope you will touch on the magic year 2007. The year internet speeds and cloud storage converged into software as a service and streaming platforms!
Thanks for your comments. This series isn’t focused on years but “components”. SaaS came out of subscription models which appeared in the late 1990s; much software had already progressed to product development models well before 2007 which completes the SaaS model. I’m looking at trends that shaped human behaviours. I think something else caused the cloud. The factor most people forget in the entire evolution. My 6th change factor: the true accelerant
The bundling strategy you describe with Microsoft Office was brilliant in hindsight.
It normalized the idea that we should expect everything for 'free' or cheap, which paved the way for the attention economy we're drowning in now.
Building on the "rationing mechanism" concept, we've actually created a third layer.
I call it algorithmic rationing. Now it's not just about what we can afford or pay attention to, but what the platforms decide we should see. We've handed over our filtering mechanisms entirely.
I write about this a little bit today.
Those humanoid robots running 12 minute races while we debate AI feels very on-brand for where we are. Don't you think? Happy Tuesday David.
Thanks for your comments and insights. I look forward to reading today’s article of yours but will be when I’m on the road. I have my company year end to do before I leave Thursday at 6:15 AM
You are jumping ahead to more rationing mechanisms coming up. The first two are search and app comparison reportings. As my wife said in the day there were maybe 3 choices, like Word vs WordPerfect vs some new one. Now there are thousands with the rankings changing constantly
Now you understand more about why I think we are doomed!
I'm saving this David for a history debate with my mom. This is magnificent.
I undoubtedly believe our problems began decades ago, and only found its way to the lights in the 2000s. Before the 2000s we already had the Internet, we had Google and the curiosity increased as to what we could all potentially achieve with technology. as many things they could potentially. 2000s technological boredom set in everyone felt like they’ve gotten everything already the anxiety increased.
The invention of AI in recent ages to spark curiosity, and of course, encourage a little bit of laziness, but no one really take and look at the downside and accountability of it all led us here.
A friend asked me if I were go back to live in the 90s or continue living in the 2000s which would I go for and I said the 90s. I have my reasons.
Thanks so much for your comments Ral. I was doing some reading this morning about early interactive systems from the 1960s where people gad the same dysfunctional reactions with them, thinking they are real and intelligent as we do today with the current AI systems
Wow David, no wonder this was late, never mind the robot games, it must have taken a while to get that history down so clearly and ekoquently! I remember doing some work for Nokia in the 1990s, envisioning the future and how people might react to likely changes. We knew "data services " would be huge, but not what it would look like in practice. To be honest, we were thinking too highbrow/strategic/professional too!
Excellent overview, and I agree with your analysis. (So good that I added a link to it on my page of Keepers.) Like you, I've lived through this and experienced most of it first-hand. In my eyes, the tide turned in a big way due to two things: personal computing and the 'web (http/HTML/all the rest). Up to then, the network was a fairly quiet kinda scholarly place inhabited by geeks. But in the 1990s, the web evolved into a monster that ate us all. (I still remember when billboards began, usually in small type in a corner, sporting these "www" thingies.) Commodification showed everyone "thars gold in them thar hills." And here we are.
One line that caught my attention because I've been thinking along similar lines was: "That people actually prefer simple interactions - clicks and likes - to something more meaningful and insightful." I've come to think recognizing the desire for simplicity is key to understanding a lot of our modern reductionist culture. We're encouraged to think in memes, icons, and aspirational/inspirational homilies.
As an aside, thinking about the past of computing made me remember the first computer I owned — a Timex Sinclar 1000. Well, that was the first *electronic* computer I owned. Back in the late 1960s, I had a Digi-Comp I — a three-bit plastic manually operated actually programmable "computer". (I think I still have both somewhere.)
Looking forward to part two.
I really appreciated reading this historical view of how we got lost in technology, and I look forward to the next installment. There is so much of this tech that I only use in a marginal way, and I grieve the attention deficit. Years ago, I heard someone lament, "I wish I had my pre-internet brain again," and I understood that exactly! Still worth learning how we got here. Thanks for this journey and your depth of knowledge from inside.
Thanks for your comments Hans. During this time, mostly as consumers, we learned to treat technology as something much more than a tool
Thanks for the restack of restacks!
Excellent - you triggered my nostalgia - alas that the knowledge economy is over I enjoyed being part of it
Thanks for your comments. I’m not sure what economy we are in anymore!
The disaster one
We will live to see the end? I was going to call it the madness economy
Thank you for taking me back in time and for all of the stats as well. I would be happy going back to the 70's for many reasons. Roller skates and skateboard in hand.
As many adages highlight: youth is wasted on the young. I loved the 1970s. Would have love to have been more grounded and present
Thanks for your comments
This was fascinating and nostalgic at the same time. Great read.
For your next article I hope you will touch on the magic year 2007. The year internet speeds and cloud storage converged into software as a service and streaming platforms!
Thanks for your comments. This series isn’t focused on years but “components”. SaaS came out of subscription models which appeared in the late 1990s; much software had already progressed to product development models well before 2007 which completes the SaaS model. I’m looking at trends that shaped human behaviours. I think something else caused the cloud. The factor most people forget in the entire evolution. My 6th change factor: the true accelerant
Thanks so much for adding to the conversation
Oh wow, my friend!
Where do I even begin?
I was having a chat with a client the other day.
The bundling strategy you describe with Microsoft Office was brilliant in hindsight.
It normalized the idea that we should expect everything for 'free' or cheap, which paved the way for the attention economy we're drowning in now.
Building on the "rationing mechanism" concept, we've actually created a third layer.
I call it algorithmic rationing. Now it's not just about what we can afford or pay attention to, but what the platforms decide we should see. We've handed over our filtering mechanisms entirely.
I write about this a little bit today.
Those humanoid robots running 12 minute races while we debate AI feels very on-brand for where we are. Don't you think? Happy Tuesday David.
Thanks for your comments and insights. I look forward to reading today’s article of yours but will be when I’m on the road. I have my company year end to do before I leave Thursday at 6:15 AM
You are jumping ahead to more rationing mechanisms coming up. The first two are search and app comparison reportings. As my wife said in the day there were maybe 3 choices, like Word vs WordPerfect vs some new one. Now there are thousands with the rankings changing constantly
Now you understand more about why I think we are doomed!
Have a great day
No rush David.
Just don’t make fun of the Pearl Jam concert I referenced in the article.
Good luck with the year-end.
You are right on a lot of things.
Enjoy your evening.
I will look the other way for anything early 1990s / Seattle / grunge. Unless you get into Britpop from the mid 90s: Pulp, Oasis, etc
I do like some songs from Oasis but I ain’t paying money to go see them in 2025 lol
Happy Wednesday David…
I'm saving this David for a history debate with my mom. This is magnificent.
I undoubtedly believe our problems began decades ago, and only found its way to the lights in the 2000s. Before the 2000s we already had the Internet, we had Google and the curiosity increased as to what we could all potentially achieve with technology. as many things they could potentially. 2000s technological boredom set in everyone felt like they’ve gotten everything already the anxiety increased.
The invention of AI in recent ages to spark curiosity, and of course, encourage a little bit of laziness, but no one really take and look at the downside and accountability of it all led us here.
A friend asked me if I were go back to live in the 90s or continue living in the 2000s which would I go for and I said the 90s. I have my reasons.
Thanks so much for your comments Ral. I was doing some reading this morning about early interactive systems from the 1960s where people gad the same dysfunctional reactions with them, thinking they are real and intelligent as we do today with the current AI systems
Let me know how the debate goes
Wow David, no wonder this was late, never mind the robot games, it must have taken a while to get that history down so clearly and ekoquently! I remember doing some work for Nokia in the 1990s, envisioning the future and how people might react to likely changes. We knew "data services " would be huge, but not what it would look like in practice. To be honest, we were thinking too highbrow/strategic/professional too!
It did take awhile to separate out the “conceptual components” and remember all the various reactions through time.
I think we always envision a future where our imagination is not informed by the past or the mundane “grubby” all too human responses
True - and it’s probably better than the alternative for all sorts of reasons!