Speed of change - less or more than in the past?

[Richard]

I often here that the speed or pace of change is getting faster. That is, we are experiencing more change now than in the past. Is that really true?

I am now 51 so can recall the early eighties very well. That is 30 years ago now - so how much has changed. Quite a lot I hear you say....

But then place yourself in 1945 and look back 30 years - wow!. Two world wars, nuclear bomb, radio, television, jet engine, nationalisation, rise of communism, etc.etc.

This is all built on the fact that as a child of the 50s (just) I feel a little cheated. Where are the jet packs, hovercraft, food in one tablet and silver suits? Is life today just very similar to the 1960s?

I would welcome your views.

[bobbieTheBear]

I think that a lot has happened since 1980.

fall of communism
the ipod
PCs
no smoking ban in pubs and restaurants
First black president of the USA
2 Gulf Wars
No nuclear bombs
Mapping of the Human Genome
Freeview television
etc.

[shingay]

As a war baby I have had a longer time to ponder this question.  But, despite the changes I have witnessed, I don't think that the rate of change has varied much - its just that with the general improvements in information transfer (internet, 24 hour television, interminable chat shows) we hear about innovations more easily.
Of course we each have to decide whether innovations are truly useful and enduring (like the hovercraft used by emergency services to cope with difficult terrain), unwanted (who would want a tablet instead of the smell, texture and taste of real food), or simply silly (like silver jumpsuits, which may look appealing on men and women in good physical shape, but look ridiculous on the average overweight person - and who wants to wear a uniform anyway).
I quite enjoy reading old books, magazines and newsprint, some of the information is very useful (even today), some is definitely obsolete, and some is hilarious.

[Richard]

Very interesting. I have some New Scientist magazines from 1970s when I was at university. Some of the predictions are entertaining. I also have a ladybird book of nuclear power form 1970s that predicts nuclear powered hovercraft. I would like to write a book on what we have thought the future would be like from different points in time. More recently you can see some views by watching SciFi movies.

Sitting here in the UK today hearing that all flights are grounded because of a volcano is a litlte bit like Scifi in my book.

The social stuff rather than science is more challenging. The Book 1984 is clearly a classic that we all refer to at various times. I think it was written in the 1930s and not too far away from reality in many areas if I recall.


I agree that the speed of communication is greater now using the internet and this makes a big difference to how people perceive change