Speed of change LO11864

GSCHERL (GSCHERL@fed.ism.ca)
Mon, 13 Jan 97 10:49:38 EST

Replying to LO11797 --

Tony asks:

> How can technology change by itself? How can technology change
> independent of the people who create build, maintain, and use the
> technology?

IMO technology is created by a small minority of the total population
(the thinkers and creators), intially used by a slightly larger
population (the entrepeneurs and innovators), and finally becomes used
by everyone (the masses). If you look at the Internet, it hasn't even
reached the stage where it is used by everyone. It is fast reaching
that stage.

I think it's Oppenheimer who talked about new concepts and ideas going
through three stages:
1st Ridiculed
2nd Opposed
3rd Self-evident.

So to answer Tony's questions, its a small minority of people who can
adapt to and use the technological changes and advances quickly. I'm
hoping that the minority is increasing and that more people are
getting to the level of consciousness necessary to adapt more easily.

Gary Scherling
Helping people help themselves
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/GScherling_GMS_TPN

-- 

GSCHERL@fed.ism.ca (GSCHERL)

Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>