Interesting perspective, and nice editorial. Looking at the world map does ring home a point, when you realize people all over the world are sitting at their computer terminals reading and sending messages about boats.
The older I get, the more I am conscious about the fast pace of technology. Some of the younger guys may take this for granted, due to the fact that they track the new gizmos each year, and they've been in the tech bubble all along. Some of us old timers can remember when transistor radios were the craze, and when hand held computers hit the market. I never had a computer in college, of any kind. We used slide rules back then. Can you imagine using one today?
You are right Paul, times are changing, and at a pace much faster than ever before.
I have always thought of my boat as a time machine. I come aboard, and I'm back in time. It's very comforting, and I think the nostalgia factor is a big issue, but also an appreciation of 1960s fiberglass, motor, and styling technology that was way ahead of it's time. We must realize that all of the calculations, milling machines, castings, and of course those beautiful drawings done by Mr. Avery, were done without the use of computers (to a very large degree). Now we take all this for granted, and some of us have laptops and towers for our personal use that represent more computing power than some of the moon shots required.
The other thing your notes bring to light, is how people adapt to this new technology. I had to laugh when I read the part about a room of executives all checking their hand devices. It's true. When I remember back to the days when the HP calculator was still a dream, seeing these guys checking email with a hand held shows how far we've come in 40 years, but now the pace is so fast, I shudder to think what the next 40 will hold.
One thing for certain, there will still be a fleet of Commanders afloat in 40 more years.
Tom
|