For decades the future of tech was far more exciting than the present. The potential was overwhelming to people who got a glimpse of it.

But a lot of that potential has now been realized. It has been incorporated into the structure of society. You know -- digital natives, for example. Kids who learn to use iPads before they can walk. Today, we all use the devices only visionaries dared to dream of just a short while ago.

And that if you project out into the future, where tech is going is fairly depressing. You can thank Facebook and Google and the NSA for that.

Why are protesters invading the privacy of tech people? Just by asking the question that way, it's kind of obvious, no?

The Washington Post is right, it's time for tech to come down to earth. We've heard all the hype, we were part of the dream that made you so rich. Now, we have to deal with the aftermath, not just us, but you too.

A picture named hypeVsReality.gif

BTW, I emailed myself a copy of the image via GMail. Google doesn't offer a way for me to download it, I can only share it via Google Plus. I'll figure out some way to get it on my website not yours, but in the meantime, oy.


By Dave Winer, Monday, January 27, 2014 at 5:43 PM. Last built on Wed, Jul 9, 2014 at 11:23 AM. Ask not what the Internet can do for you.