from sticks and stones to

Adam Greenfield's, "Thesis 10: Everyware necesitates a new set of human interface modes" (Greenfield pp. 40).
When I read Greenfield's "Thesis 10", within the context of Standage's, "The Victorian Internet" I realized I could apply Greenfield's afore mentioned thesis to Standage's history of the telegraph. Certainly not a huge leap, but interesting still. The telegraph provided a wealth of new "interface modes" for the people of its era. People had to familiarize themselves with the new technology along with the host of assorted changes which accompianied it. From its beginnings in France, to the successful trans-atlantic cable which connected the telegraph networks of North America and Europe, the progression of telegraph technologies continually altered the way communication between human beings occured, and therefore, the general way of life for the whole of the modern world.
Duh, right? Well then I decided to look at the development of printed texts in the context of Greenfield's thesis. The development of the printing press and moveable type offered up to the world a wealth of new "interface modes". We've seen a prime historical example in the Gugenheim Bible. The ability to convey information upon a page, and to do it exactly the same way every time, changed the way humanity existed.
Duh again. The point is this: we've always discovered new "interface modes", I think it must be part of the human expierience, our experience. From the time our ancestors took a muddy hand and placed it on the wall of some cave to mark his passage; to figuring out that sharpend sticks and fire work a hell of a lot better at bringing down game than running after it screaming, humanity has always found new and better modes of interface with the enviroment. The coming changes (interface modes) will likely be more rapid than any of the ones we've expereinced. I was initiallly uncomfortable with the idea of such rapid, ubiquitous change in my life time...but now, as I've written this I find myself not so uneasy. Hell, we've done well so far, we'll most likely, probably be allright.