Pro re nata.

jumps in human computer interaction, from the large, to the infinitely small and personal, the mainframe and timesharing, to singular devices, from teams of support to keep a machine running, to never ever needing to know about anything besides the stuff you do on it, like email, books, photos, and music. The device disappears. No longer are you looking and interacting with a computer screen, but you see and handle your data, your items, the pieces of your digital life. the machine got out of the way. it's too bad open doc went away, since I imagine that would have been even sweeter, to deal with objects, without caring about applications. along with removing the machine, and though it sounds opposite to it, but more ubiquitous computing, a machine that goes everywhere, used everywhere, that won't be out of place. it really is the future, a dynabook, as dreamed by alan kay, to the point i wonder if they had smalltalk or squeak on it, would that finally be the realization? and i laugh at those that fear the loss of tinkering, and ponder what new levels of tinkering remain, as the ladder now starts on a higher step, and maybe the tinkering happens at the data level, at the interaction level, in the more social, in the higher level, the image, the sound, and hope and dream of the children's future, on the shoulders of genius

full of questions, full of doubts, and worry enters, maybe for the first time ever, and settles in for the long haul. what ifs enter the fray, I wonders pop up. Hopes and dreams, now traveling companions on this long and decades long journey. The mind races along paths, branches, attempting to see around corners, into nooks and crannies, over hills and dales, through open windows and cracked doors, and it's almost too much, too many responsibilities, and there is a need to find the path, the street signs. the quick start guide, and have faith that the systems rights itself, teach enough to care, create, fashion a strong enough rudder, and paddles, and sails for boating life. And just concentrate on the tools, and put the tools into her hands, and watch her use them.

loaded questions, biased methods, words and phrasing implying meaning and statements, couched and hidden in the process. jumping to conclusions, reporting of fact, but little facts, tips of iceberg facts, and then the attention is lost, and the giant flash that caught our eye, has moved downstream. how important are contracts, fine print, and things agreed to without reading, and hoping it no longer applies, or never thought of, so never bothered to check, and someone else needs to be responsible, the giver of the tool, not the user of the tool, the device, it's all very frustrating, well, maybe, just because i see an easier way, no better or worse, but easier. but always, picking your spots. pick your spots. find the battles worth fighting, finding the currents to ride, the waves to catch, since tidal waves, tsunamis, whirlpools and rapids, well, you need training, you need practice, you need the tools and the strength, so pick 'em, and dodge and weave, and it's boxing