Comments on: More on the Age Question

By: John

John — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 00:56:47 +0000

It would surprise me if we older folk even recognize the internet in, say, a decade or so. The dreams, desires and change of necessity of todays youth are going to change the very face of everything we see today.

We though, in the late 80’s that our BBS’s and network technologies were the proverbial cat’s ass. I had a copy of my BBS kicking around and thought it would be fun to show my son. So proud was I, until he laughed his proverbial butt off.

The bottom line is, everything commercial changes and is enhanced by the consumer. The consumer in this case is primarily 12 - 30. Indeed, the technologies and frameworks we devised 25 and 30 years ago are still relevant for they formed the basis of the architecture of today. Without a foundation a building never stands.

We provided the foundation. The kids are going to build the skyscrapers.

By: Rob Hyndman

Rob Hyndman — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 11:11:06 +0000

Great comment, Norm - as usual. Thanks much.

By: Norman Young

Norman Young — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 17:01:19 +0000

Hi, Rob.

Thing is, our generation didn’t design the Internet that Fred describes, any more than Gutenberg invented the Renaissance, or James Watt invented the Industrial Revolution.

The design process comprises two phases. Synthesis originates candidate ideas which we hope might be useful. Analysis tests the ideas to see which ones actually solve relevant problems.

For the older generation’s part, we’ve synthesized almost 5,000 Requests for Comment (RFC) since 1969. RFC’s describe the Internet’s technical design ideas. Which of those 5,000 RFC’s are our younger generation applying when they use chat, instant messaging, or social networking? I’m guessing fewer than 1%.

The older generation has one thing that the younger does not, until we teach them: A framework in which to first observe the contrast of historical change, and to then extrapolate from its lessons.

Just as the widespread dissemination of the written word fed the demand for secular information, and as the growth of industrial class fed the demand for manufactured goods, the Internet feeds its own growth.

On that point, I take some exception with the older generation’s claim to the Internet’s recent technical evolution. What is the average age of Barcamp devotees, or Mesh entrepreneurs? Younger than me, that’s for sure.

The Internet is young and growing because it’s young and growing. The gift of age is in having known a difference.

Norm.