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Computers are klunky objects that get in your way when you try to use them. When they disappear inside ofbobjects, then we know they have arrived. They are star

Computers are klunky objects that get in your way when you try to use them. When they disappear inside ofbobjects, then we know they have arrived. They are starting to disappear inside of phones, tvs, appliances, voice assistants, cars, etc. But have a ways to go.

Ericson2314 6y ago
That would just be mindless consumption. The computer revolution will be when everyone learns a little programming and accidentally complexity (bullshit) is beaten back enough that that little bit is useful. In other words, I think we've long had the means, but capitalist underconsumption and the accumulation of technical debt holds us back.
- MayeulC 6y ago
  I agree with this. Everything should be programmable, interoperable. Simple APIs, introspection, etc. Have systems emerge out of simple interactions built by users. Have more users depend on that. Instead, we get silos, to better capture value. Users are consumers, and need only ingest what we feed them, to better keep them in check. I'm not blaming anyone specifically here. Even OOP, and living cells tend to work the cell: keep your riches inside a membrane, and control every external interaction on your terms if you want to have it your way. Only... to some extent, as there is an equilibrium. Bacteria have plasmids. We at least have HTTP, for now (but it's not enough anymore due to captchas, js, etc).
- remolacha 6y ago
  Programmers today are like scribes were in the middle ages. When 90% of the world knows basic programming, I think that we will have a profoundly different conception of both computation and society.
  - w7 6y ago
    At the same time; not everyone became a blacksmith.
    - whbrown 6y ago
      Both analogs bear aspects of truth since software has the characteristics of being both a machine (crafted precision tool), as well as being information itself (freely spread & adaptable). Its future is probably some superposition of both.
      - jwolfe 6y ago
        Similarly, "basic programming" is a spectrum that starts at simple Excel formulas.
  - troupe 6y ago
    Well considering the literacy rate is only 86% in the world today, this seems like a very lofty goal.

Ericson2314 6y ago

That would just be mindless consumption. The computer revolution will be when everyone learns a little programming and accidentally complexity (bullshit) is beaten back enough that that little bit is useful. In other words, I think we've long had the means, but capitalist underconsumption and the accumulation of technical debt holds us back.

MayeulC 6y ago
I agree with this. Everything should be programmable, interoperable. Simple APIs, introspection, etc. Have systems emerge out of simple interactions built by users. Have more users depend on that. Instead, we get silos, to better capture value. Users are consumers, and need only ingest what we feed them, to better keep them in check. I'm not blaming anyone specifically here. Even OOP, and living cells tend to work the cell: keep your riches inside a membrane, and control every external interaction on your terms if you want to have it your way. Only... to some extent, as there is an equilibrium. Bacteria have plasmids. We at least have HTTP, for now (but it's not enough anymore due to captchas, js, etc).
remolacha 6y ago
Programmers today are like scribes were in the middle ages. When 90% of the world knows basic programming, I think that we will have a profoundly different conception of both computation and society.
- w7 6y ago
  At the same time; not everyone became a blacksmith.
  - whbrown 6y ago
    Both analogs bear aspects of truth since software has the characteristics of being both a machine (crafted precision tool), as well as being information itself (freely spread & adaptable). Its future is probably some superposition of both.
    - jwolfe 6y ago
      Similarly, "basic programming" is a spectrum that starts at simple Excel formulas.
- troupe 6y ago
  Well considering the literacy rate is only 86% in the world today, this seems like a very lofty goal.