4 ms·
Which also were not a utility... Rotary phones are an interface to a utility. But let's be realistic, the copper required to connect homes to each other requir
by igetspam 5y ago
Which also were not a utility... Rotary phones are an interface to a utility.
But let's be realistic, the copper required to connect homes to each other required a massive public works effort. Facebook turned on a server and ran some PHP to stalk college women. Big difference.
- mandmandam 5y agoAh right so. Well if we're being pedantic like that, I guess my oven is just an interface to the gas line, and my lights are just an interface to the leccy lines. Guess I don't need to pay my utility bills, which is great news because they're gone through the roof.
- jkelleyrtp 5y agoThe government doesn’t make ovens or light bulbs, but does maintain the infrastructure. I think there’s a distinction to be made there.
- perl4ever 5y ago>Rotary phones are an interface to a utility. I'm not old enough to remember firsthand, but I believe rotary phones (in the US) are generally from the era when the phone company was a monopoly and strictly controlled what was plugged into their lines. So I think it may be technically correct to call them a (part of a) utility and not just an interface.
- fragmede 5y agoYes. The telephone in your house belonged to AT&T, and you had to rent it from them. It took a lawsuit for them to allow other devices to connect to the phone network. Today's vendor lock-in is no different.