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As powerful as the Internet is, there has been fewer transformative technologies developed from 1950 to now than from the steam engine to 1950. Just a few: rad
by vcg3rd 3y ago
As powerful as the Internet is, there has been fewer transformative technologies developed from 1950 to now than from the steam engine to 1950.
Just a few: radio, radar, penicillin, automobiles, telephone, refrigeration (huge), air flight, train transport, x-rays, and much much more.
Rewrite the headline to "make phone calls obsolete" and it'll give you 1) an idea of how transformative voice transmissions were (and still are for families) and 2) an idea of how people forget what phones are actually good for.
If I had to give up everything on my smart phone except one function I would keep the ability to speak to my mother, children, and grandchildren.
Yes, I could use VoIP on my desktop if I wanted, but I don't want and I can't take my desktop with me. I can buy a GPS, radio/mp3 player, camera,e-book reader and more to replace those functions. I would retain voice calls and give up only what? Social media? I don't use any. Email when not at home (yawn)? Surfing the Web?
- wizofaus 3y agoLosing the camera function would be annoying, as would the ability to use it as a credit/travel card etc. - I'd have to go back to using dedicated devices for that. Whereas you're right - the ability to talk (/communicate) with people virtually wherever you (and they) are in the world is still what makes it a truly transformative technology with no adequate replacement.
- beebeepka 3y ago> if only I could buy a modern phone without cameras. It's a travesty these things don't even have shutters. Taping over them works but is very inconvenient. They also tend to stick out of the chassis. It's boggling my mind they keep adding more cameras. I really have lost almost all touch with the world.
- aners_xyz 3y agoGenuinely curious how phone cameras not having physical shutters is a travesty. Wouldn’t it take up a lot of space? Either making the camera bump even bigger or shrinking the lens elements. Shutterless shooting has its faults that necessitate a physical shutter when shooting professionally on dedicated cameras. Outside of those circumstances shooting shutterless on modern mirrorless ‘pro’ cameras has few drawbacks. I could see flickering with some light sources being annoying at times but if you’re running into it as annoyance often a dedicated camera is always an option. Even 10 year old digital cameras wipe the floor of any phone
- beebeepka 3y agoI meant privacy shutters. Movable plastic or metal pieces capable of stopping light from reaching the camera. Or, again, no camera at all.