That Useless Old Internet
Posted by Danielle Bean in News on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 2:00 PM
I was amused recently to read a 1995 Newsweek column by Clifford Stoll, in which he predicts the demise of that useless old internet thing.
A small sample:
Do our computer pundits lack all common sense? The truth in no online database will replace your daily newspaper, no CD-ROM can take the place of a competent teacher and no computer network will change the way government works.
First of all, back in 1995 I think I still had a rotary phone. I had a Juno account and an under-the-radar dial-up internet connection from my brother’s workplace that worked for email only. Every time I sent a message and received a reply, I felt the thrill of connection.
Oh yes. I was cutting edge.
Actually I was, compared to most other young moms I knew.
Remembering where I was and where the internet was 15 years ago helps put this column into perspective. It’s both amusing and and amazing to consider how quickly the online world has advanced in such a short period of time.
The assumptions about the limitations of technology in this column make me pause. Of course back then Stoll didn’t know where the internet was going. None of us did. And today none of does, either.
How about you? During this week where we are focusing on new media, perhaps we can share how we’ve changed over the years. How has your personal tech-savvy advanced since 1995?
Print Blog
Email a FriendPost a Comment
By submitting this form, you give Faith And Family Magazine permission to publish this comment. Comments will be published at our discretion, and may be edited for clarity and length. For best formatting, please limit your response to one paragraph and don't hit "enter" to force line breaks.
