Tsunami Computer Change: Finance, Journalism, Education, Health

[August1991]

"Computers" were once people who like "accountants" made calculations. These computers specifically calculated bombing trajectories in World War II.

Then, Johnny von Neumann (a chain-smoking Hungarian Jew, fascinating person) had the original idea to use a transistor (at the time, a vacuum tube) to make these calculations electrical.

[bTW, von Neumann also invented game theory. Smart guy. Sadly dead too young of cancer: Kids, don't smoke.]

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Older Westerners/Canadians all know how computers changed banking. Around the 1970s or so, we no longer had to go to our branch to get money. Our bank, whatever branch, knew our balance. Then, there were ATMs - early 1980s.

In the past decade or so, 2000s, journalists have faced a similar "problem" as bank tellers once faced decades ago. People no longer buy newspapers since we read news on line.

The future?

I reckon that the tsunami will hit education, and then health care. The only reason it hasn't hit now is that Western governments around the world are too far involved in education and health care. And democratic governments are a conservative bulwark against change.

Edited November 30, 2013 by August1991

[bush_cheney2004]

Nah...it has already "hit" education and health care, and I should know, as my business sector has been hit hard but also benefits when the transition goes well. Started back in the late 90's with curriculum content development, demise of printed course materials and reference works, testing and credentialing, virtual universities, etc. Books are not so much dead, just redundant.

Health care has been a bit slower, but now many protocols are online for patient and health care providers alike. No need to go into the doctor's office for garden variety ailments, and prescriptions are dispensed via the web for local pickup at a pharmacy. Insurance products and claims are now processed online, with no need for paperwork unless insisted upon. Same thing happened in the financial sector. Not quite paperless...but far less paper being mailed about the land.

Edited November 30, 2013 by bush_cheney2004