Timelines

We will refer to the following timelines throughout this lecture.

How we Got Here

The Universe

Earth

Human History

How our Technology Evolved

General Computing

Timeline – important points in computer history

Internet

Personal Computers and Devices

Expected Tech Literacy Through the Digital Age

For an "average" American:

1950-1970

• Basic radio operation
• Television operation (by late 1950s/1960s)
• Rotary telephone usage
• Basic office equipment (typewriters, adding machines)
• Understanding of recorded music (vinyl records)

1970s

• Push-button telephones
• Basic calculator usage (though not as widespread early in decade)
• Early video game consoles (Atari, etc.)
• Audio cassette operation
• Early VCR usage (late 1970s)

1980s

• VCR programming and operation (though many struggled with this)
• Video game console familiarity (mainly among youth)
• Touch-tone phone operation
• Walkman/portable music players
• Cable TV operation

1990s

• Basic computer usage (becoming common in homes by late 90s)
• Mouse and keyboard basics
• Basic word processing (mainly younger generations)
• Basic mobile phone operation (by late 90s, not widespread)
• CD player operation

2000s

• Basic email usage (becoming widespread)
• Basic web browsing
• Digital camera usage (point-and-shoot)
• Basic texting
• DVD player operation
• Basic mobile phone features

2010s

• Basic smartphone operation
• Text messaging proficiency
• Social media basics (Facebook, etc.)
• Basic app usage
• Digital photo taking/sharing
• WiFi connection basics

2020s

• Smartphone proficiency
• Social media across platforms
• Video calling
• Basic streaming service usage
• Mobile payment basics
• Basic password management
• Video conferencing basics (post-COVID)

Paradigm Shifts

Terminology

Digital Immigrants = Born before widespread computing/internet. Had to learn and adapt to digital technologies later in life.

Digital Natives = Born after 1990s. Never experienced a world without computers / Internet.

Key Changes

1. Analog to Digital

   • Transition from physical to digital storage and transmission
   • Examples: vinyl to MP3, film to digital photos, paper to digital documents

2. Stationary to Mobile

   • From fixed locations to anywhere access
   • Desktop computers → laptops → smartphones
   • Landline phones → mobile phones → smartphones

3. Local to Cloud

   • Shift from local storage to cloud-based services
   • Software installation to Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)
   • Personal servers to cloud computing

4. Passive to Interactive Media

   • One-way broadcast (TV/radio) to interactive content
   • Rise of social media and user-generated content
   • Gaming and interactive entertainment

5. Privacy Evolution

   • From relative anonymity to digital footprints
   • Increasing concerns about data privacy and security
   • Balance between convenience and privacy protection

6. Information Access

   • Libraries and encyclopedias to instant internet searches
   • Expert gatekeepers to crowd-sourced knowledge
   • Traditional education to online learning