Cycles of fast change
120 years ago, cars and planes were state of the art technology.
Lightbulbs slowly replaced candle and gas lighting in city factories and shops, allowing them to operate through the night for the first time. Large businesses and wealthy individuals were just beginning to own a telephone. Newspapers were becoming commonplace, often biased towards a political party. Anyone who wasn't a white man faced horrific injustices in America and people were getting more and more vocal about it. War had broken out between Japan and Russia, drawing concerns about a wider conflict involving European powers and disruptions of U.S. trade routes. People spoke about how the world was moving alarmingly fast.
60 years ago, computers and automation sparked anxieties of job displacement and unknown consequences of rapid technological advancements.
The Apollo program brought dreams of space exploration and scientific breakthroughs. Rock & Roll from The Beatles electrified airwaves. Credit cards were now in half a million American pockets. Wealthy neighbors began buying color TVs. Margarine was a healthy alternative to butter and sugar cereal was a healthy energy booster. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark, but segregation lingered and tensions remained high. Everyone feared another civil or world war at this time. People spoke about how the world was moving alarmingly fast.
60 years from now, will things move any slower? Will change continue to weigh over everyone as technology moves fast?
History can remind us that progress isn't inevitable, it's always constructed. More resources are available today than ever before that help us design better tools, communities and systems. Designing for sustainability, accessibility and inclusion are all on the rise. 3D printers are more affordable and open source design software is more widely available.
As we continue to adapt, it's as good a time as any to start a new project, large or small, that makes life a little better.
