Traveling a digital World
Sunday, 2. August 2009, 16:30:53
What is the purpose of technology? It may be just my narrow point of view, but I say: comfort.
The 19th century was an amazing time for inventors and for travelers. In earlier centuries, traveling was an issue of trading guilds, colonists and governments' officials, but then, it became possible for the average people, even in a comfortable way, thanks to technological progress. Just remember what an adventurous enterprise planes used to be.
Two centuries later, the situation is the same: We, not as governmental or scientific enterprises, but as individual, private persons have been able to explore the vastness of a digital world that is full of possibilities, chances and porn, thanks to the pioneering technology. The travel itself had become accessible, so then it needed to progress into a pleasing, comfortable experience. And it did.
A parallel that comes to mind is the transition from sailing ships to the giant, steam-powered passenger liners with their opulent cafés, elevators and even libraries, like the Titani...no, wait, bad example.
Anyways, we now desire not only the (digital) travel, but we expect it to be in a sophisticated manner. It's a question of life quality. What once seemed like pure luxury becomes part of our standards – and that, in my eyes, is what Opera constantly does. Raising the standard. It takes your trip and makes it far more pleasing. Like the Titanic. Just faster and with less...ice, and dying, you know.
The transition clever engineers made possible for real-world travel is exactly what Opera does to the digital world. Imagine telling a person from the 14th century in a wooden rowing boat about how relaxed travel will become. Now imagine telling a person who is using the Internet Explorer 2 how smooth being online can actually be. Or someone who is using Internet Explorer 5. Or 6. Or 7. Or.......you get the idea.
I'm sure every Opera-user has had the moment where he had to briefly use another browser, made a thoughtless mouse-gesture and then realized, what he just did.
In my eyes, Opera invents useful features from out of nowhere and makes them a standard other browsers copy later, so it makes your time online more convenient and therefore, in an age of traveling the digital world, improves your life quality. Be it tabs, mouse gestures, speed dial, mail- and IRC-client, all of these make my time on the Internet comfortable. It's like sitting in a big padded wing-chair instead of an old, uncomfortable wooden seat. Just look at the picture above. We are talking about one single program here, and I didn't even mention it's superior speed and rendering engine.
You may have wondered why I picked the 19th century anyways. I did so because I believe, that we are only at the beginning of what the Internet can be, that there is still much innovation to come (Opera Turbo for me, I actually need it; Unite for suckers with actual bandwidth, to name just two things), and I know just the people who have been, are, and will be among the biggest pioneers of our digital age. Those Opera guys.
[this is my contribution to the internship-competition, fave it if you like it]
The 19th century was an amazing time for inventors and for travelers. In earlier centuries, traveling was an issue of trading guilds, colonists and governments' officials, but then, it became possible for the average people, even in a comfortable way, thanks to technological progress. Just remember what an adventurous enterprise planes used to be.
Two centuries later, the situation is the same: We, not as governmental or scientific enterprises, but as individual, private persons have been able to explore the vastness of a digital world that is full of possibilities, chances and porn, thanks to the pioneering technology. The travel itself had become accessible, so then it needed to progress into a pleasing, comfortable experience. And it did.
A parallel that comes to mind is the transition from sailing ships to the giant, steam-powered passenger liners with their opulent cafés, elevators and even libraries, like the Titani...no, wait, bad example.
Anyways, we now desire not only the (digital) travel, but we expect it to be in a sophisticated manner. It's a question of life quality. What once seemed like pure luxury becomes part of our standards – and that, in my eyes, is what Opera constantly does. Raising the standard. It takes your trip and makes it far more pleasing. Like the Titanic. Just faster and with less...ice, and dying, you know.
The transition clever engineers made possible for real-world travel is exactly what Opera does to the digital world. Imagine telling a person from the 14th century in a wooden rowing boat about how relaxed travel will become. Now imagine telling a person who is using the Internet Explorer 2 how smooth being online can actually be. Or someone who is using Internet Explorer 5. Or 6. Or 7. Or.......you get the idea.
I'm sure every Opera-user has had the moment where he had to briefly use another browser, made a thoughtless mouse-gesture and then realized, what he just did.
In my eyes, Opera invents useful features from out of nowhere and makes them a standard other browsers copy later, so it makes your time online more convenient and therefore, in an age of traveling the digital world, improves your life quality. Be it tabs, mouse gestures, speed dial, mail- and IRC-client, all of these make my time on the Internet comfortable. It's like sitting in a big padded wing-chair instead of an old, uncomfortable wooden seat. Just look at the picture above. We are talking about one single program here, and I didn't even mention it's superior speed and rendering engine.
You may have wondered why I picked the 19th century anyways. I did so because I believe, that we are only at the beginning of what the Internet can be, that there is still much innovation to come (Opera Turbo for me, I actually need it; Unite for suckers with actual bandwidth, to name just two things), and I know just the people who have been, are, and will be among the biggest pioneers of our digital age. Those Opera guys.
[this is my contribution to the internship-competition, fave it if you like it]
WIDGETIZE
gregsmithsays # 8. August 2009, 13:59
Gyrobo # 12. August 2009, 02:40
I'll let him know.
gregsmithsays # 12. August 2009, 06:20
I read an interesting article on people still running OLD, very limited PC's.
Catering for their needs is also important.
gregsmithsays # 12. August 2009, 15:07
Opera Online Writers Internship Competition Group >>
http://my.opera.com/operainterns2009/blog/
or the Participants Forum >>
http://my.opera.com/operainterns2009/forums/
kind regards,
greg
Gyrobo # 13. August 2009, 22:52
gregsmithsays # 14. August 2009, 00:16
Here's a good recycler - www.pcdisposal.com
jdlien # 15. August 2009, 01:49
Gyrobo # 15. August 2009, 01:51
BurningOwls # 15. August 2009, 09:20
jdlien # 15. August 2009, 14:17
jdlien # 15. August 2009, 14:44
Gyrobo # 15. August 2009, 16:07
Chrome's developers are using that idiom to its fullest extent.
jdlien # 15. August 2009, 17:06
Gyrobo # 15. August 2009, 17:31
Unless that's just MY copy.
jdlien # 15. August 2009, 18:10
As for the finger puppets... uhm... I can't say I ever noticed that. Chrome is geniunely pretty fast. I don't know if anyone ever had the good *fortune* of working on slackware systems though... you get a joke whenever you log in. Usually a dirty one too... those were the days, I kinda miss that
Gyrobo # 15. August 2009, 18:27
KIDDING! KIDDING!
juiced # 17. August 2009, 13:09
rjloughney # 18. August 2009, 01:38
Fav vote from me
lexiz08 # 22. August 2009, 04:27
drop over mine and tick the star if you like it, if you won't mind.
winterdawn # 22. August 2009, 15:57
you got my vote
please also support me at http://my.opera.com/winterdawn/blog/2009/08/19/an-open-book
thank you so much!
sannygps # 23. August 2009, 13:55
user1opera # 24. August 2009, 02:45
http://my.opera.com/user1opera/blog/
Thank you all
P.S.
I am sorry for my "philosophical posts"
if any don't like them - i can delete them thus.
you can add me as friend
and vote for my so-called weblog here:
P.S.2 :
To all who wouldn't win -
it means we are for more important than just technology
real purpose of life transcends technologies
Header:
"O", "Apple" inside ;-)
miniliini # 28. August 2009, 06:42
If you want to read something funny, check out my blog post and add it to your favorites:
http://my.opera.com/miniliini/blog/2009/08/26/a-brief-history-of-my-life-b-o-u-3
Thank you & best of luck!
Omaroyoun # 31. August 2009, 06:05
I have voted for you.
Please vote me back if you like my contest-post @
http://my.opera.com/Omaroyoun/blog/a-crystal-ball-eye-on-mobile-innovation-evolution
BurningOwls # 31. August 2009, 21:19
Still, thanks for the appreciation and good luck to the contendants in the second round!
Gyrobo # 31. August 2009, 21:49
Omaroyoun # 31. August 2009, 22:13
Gyrobo # 31. August 2009, 22:57
ppravin88 # 16. September 2009, 15:16