This lack of knowledge, unfortunately, permeates a large part of learning and society in general. People tend to grasp at and/or profess misconceptions as it is easier for them, I think, instead of trying to comprehend whether technology is evolving “old” into “new” (horrible terms but that is how it is conceived) or whether it is truly revolutionizing the way in which we do things (as you so clearly point out, the 47 year old algorithm). To some degree, I can appreciate an end-user’s desire to just be acquainted with apps and what immediate goals can be realized by those apps. However, I strongly agree with your comment about the underlying concepts that are the constants upon which we build. These are so often ignored because it requires a true desire for knowledge for the sake of knowledge rather than for immediate satisfaction (something that unfortunately has become a by-product of technology for the consumerist masses).

All I can really say for sure I’ll continue to straddle the technological horse and continue to read your blogs

And when end users actually do use a database, it’s Access and we complain, cause Access sucks.

Speaking of databases - the relational database model is another thing that I expect to stay with us for a long time. It works, it has solid mathematical underpinnings and the research done in this area is extensive.

Yeah, i do agree with you. What we use right now has pretty much stagnated into those 6 categories of software. I can’t foresee any revolution coming, but probably more of evolution in how we use those software.

As for apps… Both vi and Emacs were written in 76. They both did come a long way but they are not so drastically different.

Still, I think even 20 years from now most users will still be utilizing the same types of apps:

1. a browser
2. an email client
3. word processing software
4. spreadsheet software
5. file manager
6. media player

If the current trends keep up, then I suspect that all these will merge into a single super-browser app that will blur the lines between online and local content.

The chief navigational paradigm will be search - you will be opening files and launching programs by typing shit into texbox Quicksilver/Launchy like textbox. We did discuss it some time ago.

Or maybe not. The point is, while the user interface may change, concepts will likely be the same. I don’t really see how could you improve or revolutionize word processing. I mean, at the end of the day it will still be a WYSIWYG text box, with some formating buttons all around it.

Recall what you said here. Users really should be learning concepts and not applications. So while the interfaces may change, it won’t be that much different. One would think that people would understand that.

Especially with using apps & probably interfaces. If MS Word looks anything like it does now (2003 or 2007) in 20 years I’ll eat my shorts. Heck, if MS Word is still the dominant word processor and word processors are still the dominant app for writing stuff, I’ll eat my hat.

The general concepts will be the same, and the building blocks will be the same, but the results will likely be very different. For non-tech people, learning computers is really learning apps, and so from their perspective they’re mostly right - little they know now about “computers” (read apps and OS) will be idential in 20 years.

PS - Merge sort was written in 1947 - still in use (at least by me).