[quote=CA renter]AN, you could do most of those things 15 years ago with a computer. The on-the-go usefulness is what I mean by navigation (relating your location to local activities and establishments, etc.), and I admit that it’s easier to find the nearest restaurant, etc. when you’re out and about. That IS an improvement. But being able to watch movies, spend time on Facebook, and play games (and we had handheld devices for that years ago, too) on your phone is “fluff” as far as I’m concerned.
In our glory days, we built rocket ships that could take us to the moon, satellites that could beam back pictures of outer space, we eradicated polio, we learned how to mass-produce penicillin, we built highways and more reliable cars/trucks that could carry people and goods across the states and into other countries. We (and others) built the first computers.
Nothing that you’ve mentioned comes anywhere close, IMO. We need to stop focusing on “social media” and phones and start creating things that will result in life-altering improvements and discoveries.[/quote]Mars rover > rocket ships to the moon. Technology to beam back video from mars > satellites to beam back pictures from space. Medicine advancement now is > medical advancement then. Tesla/FCEV, autonomous cars, interconnected car > highway. We have more reliable cars today than before. We have safer cars today than before.
Nothing you’ve mentioned comes close to what I’ve mentioned. I haven’t even mentioned about the ability for relatives to be able to send video message across the globe for very little cost. I haven’t even mention about Skype/Google Hangout that let relatives to communicate across the globe for free. These tech might not life altering to you, but it’s life altering to many. There is a reason why there are 1B+ people using Facebook, hundred of millions using Snapchat/Skype/Googlehangout/etc. It allow people to connect in ways that they haven’t been able to before. Before, all you got is pen and paper. There are SOOOO MUCH more innovation we’ve made in the last 10 years that I haven’t even mentioned. These innovation might not be life altering to you because you don’t use it, but it’s life altering to many, which is why these companies are making money hand over feet. I would hate to go back to 1995 and have to pay $1000 for a color scanner.
