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The world is transformed, and has been in the throes of a major transformation for, what, 20 years? 30 years? 50... Read a little history or talk to your grand

The world is transformed, and has been in the throes of a major transformation for, what, 20 years? 30 years? 50... Read a little history or talk to your grand parents or parents. Old newspapers on microfilm (or online!) are another clue. Anyone interested in media, communications, and data processing needs to know this stuff. (I may be a little extra aware of this: my father was born in 1916, my grandfather was born in 1860, and my great grandfather (on my father's mother side) was born in 1795. All left significant documents about their life. And of course my father's still talking...)

Tichy 16y ago
But what is the major thing that replaces newspapers? An alternative form factor to carry around, or an alternative way to transport information? I'm sorry to say, but I think with or without the iPad, newspapers would have been toast. The iPad will just be another footnote in history.
- commieneko 16y ago
  The telegraph is a footnote in history, but it certainly transformed communication. As did radio drama and penny dreadful novels. Instead of having different media, we have a convergence of datatypes and a divergence of soft presentation gadgets, both "real" and "virtual." What effect would data glasses, that didn't make you look like a dork, combined with ambient networking have on media? Throw in virtual reality and truely smart software agents and I've just described the anime _Dennō Coil_ which everyone interested in this topic should check out. (As well as the user interface and displays visible in _Pale Cocoon_.)
losvedir 16y ago
Wow, so your great grandfather was 65 when he had your grandfather, and your grandfather was 56 when he had your father? How old are you, if you don't mind me asking? That's an impressive lineage you've got there. I asked my grandfather once if he ever knew someone in the Civil War and he got offended, but it could have just barely worked -- he was born in about 1930. Wow, you must have some interesting family history!
- commieneko 16y ago
  People often had larger families, and had children longer in the 19th century. Limited birth control... Also I think there were some May/December romances, and at least a second wife in there somewhere. I'm in my 50s. My father's father was alive at the very beginning of the Civil War. My mother's family, while containing a few more generations :) also has some interesting stories from that period. I've read that the last civil war veterans dies in the 1950s; it's important to remember that lots of boys in their teens lied about their ages to join the armies on both sides. Even more amazing, the last civil war widow died in 2004! Talk about your May/December romances...
  - losvedir 16y ago
    Wow, fascinating, thanks. 2004 for the civil war widow is remarkable!

Tichy 16y ago

But what is the major thing that replaces newspapers? An alternative form factor to carry around, or an alternative way to transport information? I'm sorry to say, but I think with or without the iPad, newspapers would have been toast. The iPad will just be another footnote in history.

commieneko 16y ago
The telegraph is a footnote in history, but it certainly transformed communication. As did radio drama and penny dreadful novels. Instead of having different media, we have a convergence of datatypes and a divergence of soft presentation gadgets, both "real" and "virtual." What effect would data glasses, that didn't make you look like a dork, combined with ambient networking have on media? Throw in virtual reality and truely smart software agents and I've just described the anime _Dennō Coil_ which everyone interested in this topic should check out. (As well as the user interface and displays visible in _Pale Cocoon_.)

losvedir 16y ago

Wow, so your great grandfather was 65 when he had your grandfather, and your grandfather was 56 when he had your father? How old are you, if you don't mind me asking? That's an impressive lineage you've got there. I asked my grandfather once if he ever knew someone in the Civil War and he got offended, but it could have just barely worked -- he was born in about 1930. Wow, you must have some interesting family history!

commieneko 16y ago
People often had larger families, and had children longer in the 19th century. Limited birth control... Also I think there were some May/December romances, and at least a second wife in there somewhere. I'm in my 50s. My father's father was alive at the very beginning of the Civil War. My mother's family, while containing a few more generations :) also has some interesting stories from that period. I've read that the last civil war veterans dies in the 1950s; it's important to remember that lots of boys in their teens lied about their ages to join the armies on both sides. Even more amazing, the last civil war widow died in 2004! Talk about your May/December romances...
- losvedir 16y ago
  Wow, fascinating, thanks. 2004 for the civil war widow is remarkable!