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All valid (and depressing) data points. It takes some inate optimism to think that things could be otherwise but I believe the commoditisation of digital infr
by college_physics 4y ago
All valid (and depressing) data points.
It takes some inate optimism to think that things could be otherwise but I believe the commoditisation of digital infrastructure and the suboptimal stewardship acts against its ongoing tight control by a small entrenched minority.
The underlying zero marginal cost trend is gnawing at the foundations of the current architecture. The wave upon wave of fizzling hypes is one symptom of this.
The other headwind is expressed at the macro level as the missing IT productivity that economists puzzle over. Simply put: the tech industry, through its recurrent monopolies, adtech business models etc is holding societies and economies back. Not developing the tools that will increase welfare both on a financial and psychological scale.
The same commoditized tech deployed in a decentralized way could open up a completely new era. As has been stated many times, we live in a feudal digital system and we know for a fact that market systems are superior to feudalism.
- CatWChainsaw 4y agoI'll grant that perhaps the giant will eat itself, or collapse on its own weight. In a general sense, I'm inclined to believe that there will be at least a couple more decades of digital feudalism before it really breaks, and it breaking does not guarantee a return of the Internet of Yore in its aftermath. I applaud open source software and the little guy, but realistically they have to burn the candle at both ends in order to keep the dream alive for a new generation to pick up the torch. That said, I'm pessimistic and cynical, and I find myself seeing every new "advancement" as portentous of a grim future.