Next
I was going through my old MarsEdit drafts, when I saw this one. I realized it was almost a post, so here it comes!
If you like computer archeology, you'll love this video from the early 90s of Steve Jobs demonstrating NextStep. What I find amazing is how much of OS X is already there, and it is also somehow sad that so little has changed. Where are virtual reality, visual programming by example, voice driven interfaces, jet packs, and flying cars! Is it the year 2000 yet?
Seriously, it seems that the only recent real improvement in the interface of computers is the iPhone. Multi-touch screen and position sensor are a great way forward. But it still feels like a very small step, after all this time.
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Sorry for all the comments, but all three of your posts today struck a chord with me. About NeXT - I had the chance to play with one once while working for the U.S. Air Force back in 1993 in Boston at a place called the Electronic Systems Center. There was only one (at least, only one that I saw). I asked a guy that worked there about this weird black computer, and he was more than thrilled to give me a tour. I distinctly remember thinking how futuristic it was. Then, in 1994, I had the chance to spend some time with some liquid-cooled giant Cray computers at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. They were being used to crunch airflow data for fighter aircraft, if memory serves. I imagine that the processing power of that machine is now readily available on the desktop today.
It is striking that things haven't seemed to advance that much in terms of interface. But in terms of processing power, progress has been, of course, unbelievable. It's an interesting window into our ability to create powerful calculating tools vs. our ability to imagine new and better ways to use/interface with this power. I think we are starting to turn the corner now.
Anyhow, great topics today. I was meaning to comment on your previous post as well - I'm a big Tufte fan, and Bret Victor's Web site is unbelievable.
Thanks for all the comments ;-)
I have seem some of Tufte's work, but I have yet to read his books. I should do this sometime.
About Next, I've never seen one in person. (I guess the only strange computer I've seen is a BeBox, which was pretty neat in a geek way.)
What I've found interesting in the recent things I've watched is how they somehow converge: Negroponte's talk about touch screens, Victor's paper, Jobs' presentation of Next... They all make me want to get an iPhone ;-)