Just saw an article from PC World this weekend I thought was interesting about “game changer” technology innovations. The list of 13 technologies in all mentioned are excellent and have had true paradym shift implications, so I’ve written a short summary below. CLICK HERE to read the entire article.
Got some technologies you think should be added? Post a comment and make your case.
PCWorld’s List
1. Henry Ford’s Model-T automobile (1912) – Ford’s assembly line dramatically reduced the price of an automobile and made cars accessible to millions, , , dramatically changing the way we live and providing quick access to products and services that were once too far away to take advantage of.
2. Zenith Flash-Matic TV Remote (1955) – What would we do without the TV remote? Well, “remotes” weren’t always available although many of you reading this article do not remember it. As a kid, I remember sitting next to the TV changing through the channels and adjusting the volume as my parents surfed the TV programs the hard way. This technology allows remote devices to control your TV, radio, DVD player, audio center, garage door, and many more things to make life easier.
3. Sputnik (1957) – Sputnik started the space race and began an unprecedented launch of new technology efforts including the birth of ARPA (Advanced Research Projects Agency) in the US. Without Sputnik, we might not have the Internet today, , , think aout what we would be missing without Internet access, , , OUCH!
4. Atari Pong (1972) – The most basic of games on your TV screen set the stage for a tremendous electronic game industry. When Pong came out, everyone was amazed at being ale to control the digital paddles to hit the moving “ball” and score when your opponent missed. Games have come a long, long way.
5. IBM PC – Model 5150 (1981) – There were PC’s before IBM launched their first, but the 5150 was released with an open architecture so all types of companies could build compatible devices and software to work with the IBM PC. This approach blasted open the capability of the PC and helped make it a consumer product.
6. Motorola DynaTAC 8000X (1983) – The first cell phone, , , sure doesn’t look like what we have these days. This guy was over 2 pounds and cost around $4,000. It set the tone for future communication capabilities we have today. Just last week, I pulled out my iPhone and called home from Johannesburg, South Africa, , , some 7,000 miles away, , , just like calling across town. We don’t think it’s a big deal today but this technology changed our lives for the better. It took 13 more years (1996) before Motorola created the first slim phone more like we use today.
7. IBM ThinkPad 700C laptop (1992) – One of the first truly portable PC’s made computing on the road actually portable. Prior to this small and lightweight capability, we had “luggable” PC’s that weighed in at 20-30 pounds like the Osborne 1, the IBM 5100, and the Compaq Portable. They were back breakers and could barely fit under an airplane seat. Then the challenge was, “Where do I put my feet on this airplane?”. So, what you had was very limited amount of people carrying a PC with them, , , today, most business people have portable computing capability on their laptops, iPads, or cell phones. If you like technology, today’s capabilities are truly remarkable compared to what we had just 10-15 years ago.
8. Broadband (1995) – Here is where it starts getting real interesting. With high volume data transfer capability, we start to see more visual software with images, sound, and even video that we see today. In 1995, a Canadian company released the first 56kbps broadband capability, , , several years later it went to 1.5mbps, , , and now we see 3G and 4G that open the possibilities to do more via the Internet than ever before. The future holds some wonderful capabilities based upon the achievements of the past.
9. The Slammer Worm (2003) – This is not a good technology but it made significant impact and changed our technology world forever it would seem. The Slammer/Sapphire Worm was possibly the first “worm on steroids” and took down millions of networks, ATM machines, even 911 emergency call centers in just 10 minutes. It helped create a new software industry to fight cyber attack. WHAT A PAIN !!
10. Apple iTunes (2003) – The beginning of online access to music made all kinds of music more accessible and cheaper, , , plus eventually easier to play anywhere you want. Apple had to show the music industry how to benefit from such a vast worldwide audience, , , and make a fortune in doing so. Don’t you love technology?
11. WordPress (2004) – We have met the media and it is us. WordPress is the largest of the Blog platforms with millions of Blogs hosted for free. This ITLever uses WordPress and I’ve been so impressed since finding it. Blogs have changed the age of information and are making it easier and easier for us to communicate.
12. Capacitive touchscreens (2006) – Apple didn’t invent the capacitive touchscreen, but its use in the Apple iPhone revolutionized the cell phone industry. It wasn’t until I purchased this little jewel that I became “phone literate”, , , hated multi-function cell phones before getting my iPhone and only used them to make and receive phone calls. Traveling is so much easier and interesting with the apps I have on my cell phone.
13. The Cloud (2010) -The Cloud is already having dramatic impact on technology organizations and companies around the world. With high speed data transfer that we have now, more and more business applications are being hosted by the companies who produce and support them, , , making them more affordable and less expensive to support with our own employees. This technology will likely spawn new and fascinating technologies that bring us closer together.
This is the tip of the iceberg of what’s to come. Some of these technologies provided the foundation for many newer technologies and will set the stage for future innovations, , , can’t wait to see what happens in the next ten years.
Got a list of your own that you think should be included? Post your ideas by making a comment.
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Herd of 10 elephants headed our direction to a water hole
They form a tighter group as they approach the road
Flanking the youngest for protection, , , they sense something ahead
One of the adults eases toward a group of hippos who also have a “small” one
Larger adult elephants begin forming a barrier
The big bull (far left) is ready for action (ears flared) as the little guy catches up
The herd begins to move on and the big bull stands guard – ears are still flared. Hippos are also grouped to protect their little one
Two adult elephants stand guard as the rest move away from the hippos
The big bull moves off with the herd leaving an adult posted
The guard stands his ground until the herd is safely away
The herd is out of range so the guard elephant turns
A 2nd adult returns to defend the guard elephant as he leaves, , , just in case
Papa elephant, , , goes anywhere he wants to
Life is just a box of chocolates (Forrest Gump)
Giraffe at the water hole
It’s a long way down to the water for these guys
This giraffe watched while the other giraffe drank water
Beautiful and very, very tall
Giraffe’s head cocks as he senses the wildebeast approaching from behind
More giraffes eating from the tree tops
“Her Mama thinks she is good looking!” – wildebeast are plentiful
He is called Pumba in the movie Lion King, , , warthogs move comfortably with the deer
Zebra on the move
Which type of zebra is this? White with black stripes or black with white stripes?
Not sure what type of deer this is, , , beautiful and not afraid
Large buck stands guard on the perimeter of his group
Our gang on the path to the water hole observatory
A photo of the Ruth’s at the end of our day of safari
ITLever™ 