I was writing about disruptors in journalism and began reflecting the other day on whether it’s possible to spot disruption before it happens. I was thinking that in 1970 we could and should have predicted that computers would eventually disrupt our lives. And also caught myself thinking well “how would we know the degree to which they’d be disruptive?” In those days I thought I’d end up with a job in research at IBM, or Kodak, or SRI, or be a university professor (which I was at the time) and just keep doing that, and computers would play an increasingly important role in my life and the world. But, you know, I was pushing the disruptive edge too, without really thinking about it that much. Disruption wasn’t a word we thought about. Or used.
My research at Northwestern University involved building better ways that computers and humans could interact. (Not so much researching—building) And I was also responsible for software that allowed us to do this “at a distance.” I didn’t think of that as disruption—I thought of it as a good thing!
At the time I didn’t have a clue that computers would ever be as small as a (large) wristwatch. Though when I was in third grade, I did have this vision that I’d wear a little thingie on my wrist that would be able to play back information that I needed on my third grade math test. “Cribbing from a smart watch,” perhaps was my thought. Not that I ever needed to crib, so perhaps that’s why that idea didn’t go anywhere. We do things we need to do. I even built a prototype using parts from an Erector set, but no way it would ever work—there was no mechanism that would put the right information in the device at the right time. We had Dick Tracy’s 2-way wrist radio (phone), but that was for making phone calls.
By the time I was a couple of years into my university research, I was able to take a computer terminal the size of a (big) suitcase to my home office and effectively telecommute. By 1973 I was pushing the idea that we’d have neighborhood co-working spaces containing desks with computer terminals, child care, sociability and snacks. By 1975 we were seeing the first small personal computers. By 1976 I used one at home, walked to Castro street for coffee, and spent far less time “at the office.” By 1980 I was involved with personal computers by Apple, Tandy, IBM, Atari, Commodore and other companies as my company developed software for use in millions of homes.
But my observation is that even though we were disruptors, we didn’t necessarily feel that way. We only know in hindsight that we were completely disrupting the way many of us work today.
Fascinating — your history and perspective, Sky. And yes, disruption is only seen in hindsight. At the time, it just seems strange. (Remember the great description of Doug Engelbart’s plight: “the loneliness of the long-distance thinker.”) Thank you for all of your support for networking people who are today’s disruptors, so that we can be change agents in community.