Significant Home Improvement Of The Family Unit or Not?

[AstroGuy]

Hi y'all


Was talking to my Uncle a while back and he raised an interesting question.

What is it, that households have now that they did not have 100 years ago?
meaning what significant improvement has advanced/devolved the family household to date?

Basically, what significant bit of technology is now in the home that was not there 100 years ago?

He pointed out to me that after all the trillions of dollars, sweat, blood, and tears, wars, billions spent on space exploration, scientific research, escalating arms race etc...What we have is the computer, and has it really benefited the family unit?

You decide, was it really worth all that heartache for a computer in the household? or have we all been sucked in, yet again?

I'd like to read your thoughts on this.





Regards...

[adman (Adam)]

100 years ago was 1911....

well - I think your uncle missed a few things....I don't think that if you grafted a PC onto life 100 years ago you would come anywhere close to having what we have today....

not all (or at least not many/any) households at that time would have had running water, sewage, electricity, private transportation, washing machines, insulation, air conditioning, radio (not to mention television)

then there are the things that technology has enabled that aren't strictly 'bits of technology themselves such as better textiles, improved building products and methods, low infant mortality rates etc etc

where do you stop. The world has seen such vast changes in the last 100 years. It is probably the fastest rate of change at any time in human history

[AstroGuy]

Originally Posted by adman

100 years ago was 1911....

well - I think your uncle missed a few things....I don't think that if you grafted a PC onto life 100 years ago you would come anywhere close to having what we have today....

not all (or at least not many/any) households at that time would have had running water, sewage, electricity, private transportation, washing machines, insulation, air conditioning, radio (not to mention television)

then there are the things that technology has enabled that aren't strictly 'bits of technology themselves such as better textiles, improved building products and methods, low infant mortality rates etc etc

where do you stop. The world has seen such vast changes in the last 100 years. It is probably the fastest rate of change at any time in human history

Yep, I also pointed this out to my uncle. I understand better textiles etc...Basically what you are saying is that the "quality' of life has improved.

Basically all items in the household though still have the same function, whether electricity was used or wood burners = same function, Hole in the ground or indoor Lavatory = same function etc...All these functions still exist nothing new really. Only significant thing is TV & computer. My point is, was it worth it to spend all that money and life for something like a TV & Computer in every household?






Regards...

[guggle (Michael)]

Without computers, one wouldn't be able to post questions like that on a forum like this....

[Draconis (Mick)]

Its a bit like the ''What have the Romans ever done for us?'' scene from Life of Brian....the list would be endless

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Roads, Aquaducts, sanitation, . . .

[supernova1965 (Warren)]

Originally Posted by AstroGuy

Yep, I also pointed this out to my uncle. I understand better textiles etc...Basically what you are saying is that the "quality' of life has improved.

Basically all items in the household though still have the same function, whether electricity was used or wood burners = same function, Hole in the ground or indoor Lavatory = same function etc...All these functions still exist nothing new really. Only significant thing is TV & computer. My point is, was it worth it to spend all that money and life for something like a TV & Computer in every household?






Regards...

You could do an experiment I think that you would be surprised stop using everything that has a computer in it for a start. Do some research but don't use a computer don't drive your car to get to the library either it has a computer in it too, I think you will be surprised what that will rule out for you. Then stop using your TV as well. I will see you in a month after your experiment and you can tell us what it was like

[OzRob (Rob)]

The refrigerator without which a cool beer would be more difficult...

[rmcconachy]

Penicillin (discovery by Alexander Fleming in 1928) and other antibiotics have saved a huge number of lives. You've no doubt used some at home at some point. Refrigeration (been around for more than a century but usage in the home only really started in the 1920s and took decades to become common) was another big leap since you could safely store food for long periods, an icebox doesn't work nearly so well. Much of the research money was spent employing scientists and engineers which directly benefited their family units. Your uncle's comment brings to my mind an image of a guy looking around and saying "Apart from a goodly chunk of everything I can see just what have we gotten out of this?"

[adman (Adam)]

Refrigeration! thats actually the best one so far. Just try to imagine life without a fridge......I would rather have a fridge than a PC....I think

[adman (Adam)]

Originally Posted by AstroGuy

Yep, I also pointed this out to my uncle. I understand better textiles etc...Basically what you are saying is that the "quality' of life has improved.

Basically all items in the household though still have the same function, whether electricity was used or wood burners = same function, Hole in the ground or indoor Lavatory = same function etc.

Have you ever had a wood burning heater / stove? Its a lot of work. Chopping the firewood, carting it inside, lighting the fire and keeping it lit, carting out the ashes. Sure - you (kind of) achieve the same end result, but I would hardly equate it with central heating or a gas oven.

Likewise a 'hole in the ground' bred disease, was smelly, required a person to come around and cart away your sh** (I bet his quality of life wasn't the greatest), and was outside - not pleasant when you are in need of late night relief.

Originally Posted by AstroGuy

Only significant thing is TV & computer.

so now its a TV and a PC?

The question tries to separate technology from quality of life which is impossible, the two have progressed hand in hand. Many of the advances that led to you having a PC in your home have also gone towards making our lives easier, better and more enjoyable than they were in 1911.

Adam

[AstroGuy]

Originally Posted by adman

Refrigeration! thats actually the best one so far. Just try to imagine life without a fridge......I would rather have a fridge than a PC....I think

They also had refrigeration back then too, no different, function = same as today.


Regards...

[AstroGuy]

Originally Posted by adman

Have you ever had a wood burning heater / stove? Its a lot of work. Chopping the firewood, carting it inside, lighting the fire and keeping it lit, carting out the ashes. Sure - you (kind of) achieve the same end result, but I would hardly equate it with central heating or a gas oven.

Likewise a 'hole in the ground' bred disease, was smelly, required a person to come around and cart away your sh** (I bet his quality of life wasn't the greatest), and was outside - not pleasant when you are in need of late night relief.



so now its a TV and a PC?

The question tries to separate technology from quality of life which is impossible, the two have progressed hand in hand. Many of the advances that led to you having a PC in your home have also gone towards making our lives easier, better and more enjoyable than they were in 1911.

Adam

These days TV's are computers.

[AstroGuy]

Originally Posted by adman

Have you ever had a wood burning heater / stove? Its a lot of work. Chopping the firewood, carting it inside, lighting the fire and keeping it lit, carting out the ashes. Sure - you (kind of) achieve the same end result, but I would hardly equate it with central heating or a gas oven.

Likewise a 'hole in the ground' bred disease, was smelly, required a person to come around and cart away your sh** (I bet his quality of life wasn't the greatest), and was outside - not pleasant when you are in need of late night relief.



so now its a TV and a PC?

The question tries to separate technology from quality of life which is impossible, the two have progressed hand in hand. Many of the advances that led to you having a PC in your home have also gone towards making our lives easier, better and more enjoyable than they were in 1911.

Adam

Yes but you are talking about one extreme poor end of the living condition.
Compare it to a house of the same living condition of today. for e.g.

If you have a house with x appliances, and function and living conditions back in 1911, now compare to house with same x appliances, and function and living conditions of today. No difference except addition of a computer.


Regards...

[supernova1965 (Warren)]

Originally Posted by AstroGuy

Yes but you are talking about one extreme poor end of the living condition.
Compare it to a house of the same living condition of today. for e.g.

If you have a house with x appliances, and function and living conditions back in 1911, now compare to house with same x appliances, and function and living conditions of today. No difference except addition of a computer.


Regards...

But you resist and ignore my comments and my challenge

[AstroGuy]

Originally Posted by supernova1965

You could do an experiment I think that you would be surprised stop using everything that has a computer in it for a start. Do some research but don't use a computer don't drive your car to get to the library either it has a computer in it too, I think you will be surprised what that will rule out for you. Then stop using your TV as well. I will see you in a month after your experiment and you can tell us what it was like

Yeah but you can still drive cars that don't have computers. same as 1911. I'm just talking about the household.

I'd rather live underground for a decade and slow down time.


Regards...

[supernova1965 (Warren)]

Originally Posted by AstroGuy

Yeah but you can still drive cars that don't have computers. same as 1911. I'm just talking about the household.

I'd rather live underground for a decade and slow down time.


Regards...

And I challenge you to say that none of your household stuff like your watch or your phone don't have a computer in it as an example. Some are unwilling to see that computers are responsible for everything now days they are responsible for all we use these days their influence is everywhere. And cars without computers are quickly becoming vintage specimens that are collectors items hardly the norm.

[AstroGuy]

Originally Posted by supernova1965

But you resist and ignore my comments and my challenge

Heh, I enjoyed that.

Most of the me's in parrallel universes have either done it or are currently doing it, some with a vengeance! to late my friend

Forgot to add, they also told the you's in those parallel universes and you should get the message soon.

Regards...

[AstroGuy]

Quantum delay propagation, wait for it, it'l get to you............

[AstroGuy]

Originally Posted by supernova1965

But you resist and ignore my comments and my challenge

Sorry Warren, I was not ignoring you mate.

Ok, I've communicated with the other me's from the other parallel universes with my quantum communicator, and they all confirm...function = same, only difference is computer.


Regards...