Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!mcvax!ukc!cs.tcd.ie!tcdmath!gwills
From: gwills@maths.tcd.ie (Graham Wills)
Newsgroups: comp.society.futures
Subject: Re: desktop of the future
Message-ID: <210@maths.tcd.ie>
Date: 12 Jan 89 10:44:56 GMT
References: <8901100246.AA14221@multimax.encore.com>
Reply-To: gwills@maths.tcd.ie (Graham Wills)
Organization: Maths Dept., Trinity College, Dublin
Lines: 27

Mr. Shein writes ...

>
>Seriously, isn't it quaint to look back and think of the folks who saw
>the first automobiles and remarked "oh, horseless carraiges!", and
>reflect on how truly limited their vision was?
>
>	-Barry Shein, ||Encore||

Why does he think so ?
What are the crucial differences between autos and carriages which make
someone who thinks they are similar "quaint" ?
After all, they have the same basic function, transport; they both need
regular maintainence, polishing; they inspire(d) similar feelings in their
owners - affection, pride; they are (were) status symbols; In recreation 
they are (were) used similarly, for racing, going for a drive in the country;
etc. etc. etc.
In fact the only *real* differences are that cars go faster and can travel for
longer distances more easily. Socially and psychologically they perform the
same function.

They would have been much more quaint if they had remarked
" Oh, a new type of transport which will cause fundamental changes
  in the way we live "

Graham Wills
TCD, Ireland