The Best Tech of the Naughts (2000’s)
By Nick True
Executive Summary
The Naughts (the term I prefer for the years 2000-2009) saw an amazing expansion in consumer technologies that make our daily lives easier, and more enjoyable. Most of these technologies were incomprehensible in the 1990’s, yet alone being integrated into our daily lives. The tech found on this list get our chores done faster, greatly diminish the lines that we stand in, and help of integrate with the technology around us and the internet. So now I present to you the best technology of the Naughts.
Top 10 Technologies
IPhone / IPod Touch
This piece of tech revolutionized on-the-go computing. The IPhone was more than just a phone, with on-board GPS, compass, camera and full computational ability it was a truly pocket computer. The IPhone allows for true internet browsing and even is breaking into the emerging technology of augmented reality.
Wikipedia
With the internet reaching a new pinnacle and more Americans more than ever having access to the web, collaboration is now easier and more effective than ever. Wikipedia is the shining example of this; based on an extremely large online community with thousands of editors. Wikipedia helped put an end to the stigma that ‘if information comes from the internet, it must be incorrect or untrustworthy’. It has shown that people can come together to compile individual knowledge that is both highly useful and accessible by all.
Online Airline Check-in
This one may seem off-kilter for a tech blog, but it has made travelling so much more tolerable. With the ever increasing security measures and the hassle of just getting to the plane, any measure to make the process easier is welcome. I personally cannot image ever standing in line at that horrible check-in counter again. When I went to Europe I never slowed down; I went from the drop-off outside the airport, strait to security, through customs, and onto the plane having nothing but the printed page of my ticket, and my passport. I cannot even imagine another way.
I-tunes / Digital Music
The teen generation now will never have the memory of sitting in a friends room shuffling through endless tracks of CD’s to find that one great album with the amazing song on it. Instead, it is a simple search on I-Tunes. Also, any one remember those lugging those big black CD organizers just to have access to your collection of music, often times carrying around 500 CDs on your person, well this is a thing of the past with thousands of songs fitting in your pocket.
YouTube
According to ‘Did You Know 4’ there has been more new video added to YouTube in the past two months than if NBC, ABC, and CBS have been airing all new content 24/7 since 1948. YouTube and the technology behind it has allowed any person to share their views, their opinions, and yes many times their stupidity with the entire world.
It took over the social network world in a big way to a huge audience both old and young… you probably have an account and you use it. What more needs to be said?!
Multi-Core Processors
The rise of dual a
nd quad core processors in personal computers has let to a sort of renaissance in personal computing. This allows not only more calculations per second, but also many more processes and applications to be run at the same time, allowing for a much more efficient use of resources.
Camera Phones / Digital Cameras
Whether it is a good or bad thing, most people now have some way to record the world around them with either a camera or camera phone in their pocket or purse at all times. This allows people to document their activities and remember them forever. Well that, or just disconnect them from the moment way too much. But either way, they sure are impressive forms of tech.
Google Maps / Google Earth
We now have the world at our fingertips. Nearly every corner of the earth where people live have high quality satellite photos that not only reveal city blocks and homes, but individual vehicles, and some times people. With street view on Google Maps, you can virtually explore the street from the ground level as if you were actually walking down it. This is a boom for the arm chair traveler, and even those just looking for a more interesting route on the family road trip.
Open Source Movement
The open source and Linux movement made amazing strides in the new millennium. What was once and obscure way for super-nerds to customize and personalize their computers and operating system. With the newest Linux Ubuntu 9.10 operating system, what was once accessible to only a few is now an extremely viable (and in my opinion a much better) alternative to the Windows and Macintosh options.
Last Links
The Best Tech of the Naughts (2000’s)
By Nick True
Executive Summary
The Naughts (the term I prefer for the years 2000-2009) saw an amazing expansion in consumer technologies that make our daily lives easier, and more enjoyable. Most of these technologies were incomprehensible in the 1990’s, yet alone being integrated into our daily lives. The tech found on this list get our chores done faster, greatly diminish the lines that we stand in, and help of integrate with the technology around us and the internet. So now I present to you the best technology of the Naughts.
Top 10 Technologies
IPhone / IPod Touch
This piece of tech revolutionized on-the-go computing. The IPhone was more than just a phone, with on-board GPS, compass, camera and full computational ability it was a truly pocket computer. The IPhone allows for true internet browsing and even is breaking into the emerging technology of augmented reality.
Wikipedia
With the internet reaching a new pinnacle and more Americans more than ever having access to the web, collaboration is now easier and more effective than ever. Wikipedia is the shining example of this; based on an extremely large online community with thousands of editors. Wikipedia helped put an end to the stigma that ‘if information comes from the internet, it must be incorrect or untrustworthy’. It has shown that people can come together to compile individual knowledge that is both highly useful and accessible by all.
Online Airline Check-in
This one may seem off-kilter for a tech blog, but it has made travelling so much more tolerable. With the ever increasing security measures and the hassle of just getting to the plane, any measure to make the process easier is welcome. I personally cannot image ever standing in line at that horrible check-in counter again. When I went to Europe I never slowed down; I went from the drop-off outside the airport, strait to security, through customs, and onto the plane having nothing but the printed page of my ticket, and my passport. I cannot even imagine another way.
I-tunes / Digital Music
The teen generation now will never have the memory of sitting in a friends room shuffling through endless tracks of CD’s to find that one great album with the amazing song on it. Instead, it is a simple search on I-Tunes. Also, any one remember those lugging those big black CD organizers just to have access to your collection of music, often times carrying around 500 CDs on your person, well this is a thing of the past with thousands of songs fitting in your pocket.
YouTube
According to ‘Did You Know 4’ there has been more new video added to YouTube in the past two months than if NBC, ABC, and CBS have been airing all new content 24/7 since 1948. YouTube and the technology behind it has allowed any person to share their views, their opinions, and yes many times their stupidity with the entire world.
Multi-Core Processors
The rise of dual and quad core processors in personal computers has let to a sort of renaissance in personal computing. This allows not only more calculations per second, but also many more processes and applications to be run at the same time, allowing for a much more efficient use of resources.
Camera Phones / Digital Cameras
Whether it is a good or bad thing, most people now have some way to record the world around them with either a camera or camera phone in their pocket or purse at all times. This allows people to document their activities and remember them forever. Well that, or just disconnect them from the moment way too much. But either way, they sure are impressive forms of tech.
Google Maps / Google Earth
We now have the world at our fingertips. Nearly every corner of the earth where people live have high quality satellite photos that not only reveal city blocks and homes, but individual vehicles, and some times people. With street view on Google Maps, you can virtually explore the street from the ground level as if you were actually walking down it. This is a boom for the arm chair traveler, and even those just looking for a more interesting route on the family road trip.
Open Source Movement
The open source and Linux movement made amazing strides in the new millennium. What was once and obscure way for super-nerds to customize and personalize their computers and operating system. With the newest Linux Ubuntu 9.10 operating system, what was once accessible to only a few is now an extremely viable (and in my opinion a much better) alternative to the Windows and Macintosh options.
Last Links
Sun, Dec 27, 2009
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