Forgive me for asking a simple question, but what is a technology
revolution? I find it hard to gauge the importance of the ideas put
forward so far because I don't have a clear idea of what a technology
revolution is -- other than ostensive definition ("you know it when you
see it").

The only example of a technology revolution I've seen on this list was
Dave's example of desktop publishing. To me that is possibly a revolution
in a small area of endeavor (though one obviously dear to the hearts of
our friends at Seybold). But when I think of a technology revolution, I
think of something that changes nearly everything about human society, at
least eventually -- things like the discovery of agriculture, the
invention of the wheel, the taming of fire, the melting of ore into metal,
and the harnessing of steam power or electricity. I think computing is one
such revolution, and that the Internet is perhaps another (or an aspect of
the computing revolution).

It seems to me that we're still in the middle of the computing revolution,
so that it's a bit early to talk about the next technology revolution. But
I'd think the candidates are things like nanotechnology and genetic
engineering.

Peter

--
Peter Saint-Andre
email/jabber: stpeter@...
web: http://www.saint-andre.com/