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Ask HN: Was the introduction of computers deemed as transformative as AI is now?

4 points by LaundroMat ↗ HN
I'm interested in knowing what the different lines of thinking were when computers were introduced to society.

What resources are there that outline the diverse opinions and predictions back then (however silly or prescient they may now seem)?

2 comments

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cc101
If you mean mainframe computers not personal computers, back in the 50s and 60s computers were thought of as obscure and unrelated to the real world. Nothing was expected from them. I think that even today most folks don't expect much from mainframe computers.

When personal computers were introduced to the general public, they were thought of as toys for geeks. Few people took them seriously. The first time the general public took notice of them was as word processors. From a broader perspective, awareness of their potential to change society grew very slowly and was well behind the capabilities of the technology.

Today, I don't think the general public expects much from AI. Generally the public does not look forward. It's with good reason the Jobs said "People don't know what they want until you show them."

JimtheCoder
"Today, I don't think the general public expects much from AI. Generally the public does not look forward."

To be fair, I am not sure the general public even understands how much they already interact with AI...