I love this picture on so many levels.
For starters, the amount of care that the artist made in getting the machines and other computing paraphernalia correct.
But also because it encapsulates the promise that computers had in the 1970s. The sheer optimism that computers could really change the world in a positive way.
I still think they can. I refuse to believe that we've corrupted computing beyond that optimistic phase.
@jk @craigmaloney we already *have* a lot of this (at least in UK/Europe) with regard to computers and electric power distribution, but instead of the space age buildings (other than where UKPN keep a *huge* accu to run half of Hertfordshire) its mostly overlooked industrial grade PLC equipment in faceless cabinets/substations doing very useful things like allowing solar power to be fed back into the 230/400V grid whilst keeping the power clean (more of a tech challenge than it may seem)
@vfrmedia @jk @craigmaloney so 125% renewables in the EU when? It so should be in the next 2-3 years. Do make this happens.
@plesuvius @jk @craigmaloney Provided political issues/upheavals in Northern Europe do not derail this, it is not impossible. BTW for all the extra load on the grid online business is blamed for, a lot of data centres/telecoms facilities in Europe do use renewable power esp solar panels; they need the batteries/UPS and backup power anyway for business continuity purposes. Tech info is often hidden b/c security/commmercial secrecy concerns but they do exist..
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/feb/09/new-energy-europe-renewable-sources-2016
@craigmaloney I.... want to believe... but I've lost my hope.
@Greg There's always hope. You just need to find it again.
There's still love in the machine.
@craigmaloney @Greg crazy thing is that Keynes predicted that by now we should work 15h per week
We will fight for the greater lazyness
@craigmaloney queue Studio Ghibli opening!
@craigmaloney as a fan of music (of almost every kind) I'm just amazed at how Shazam and the likes made my life richer (not talking about my wallet). Hear a song i like, 3 clicks and it's on my iPhone. I remember years ago listening the radio for hours hoping the dj would play THAT song I heard only once and desperately wanted to hear again, with my recorder ready.
Granted, it's quite superficial, but nevertheless... :)
@craigmaloney Could change the world... or just provide an escape? :p
Now, about humans, I believe it’s long been established we don’t have the most care for ourselves in general. Power consistently corrupts.
@craigmaloney Polution in NYC has actually gone Waaaaay down since when I was a kid. Nobody really talks about it much, but its actually ALOT better than it was, not that its very clean right now.
Oooh they still can! And are!
@craigmaloney
1. It's not that computers make future better, it's that they provide us with an illusion of better, so that we can ignore the disasters around us. The beautiful world is _within_ the computer.
2. It's not technology that's corrupted, it's the people. Technology is just a tool. It only amplifies what's been lurking within people for ages.
@craigmaloney this is incredibly Project Cybersyn Aesthetic