• ricecake@sh.itjust.works
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    4 days ago

    The other thing is that we’re both using devices that the most powerful people in the world would have absolutely no possibility of using anything close to as recently as 100 years ago. So it’s not just efficiency gains, but fundamental gains in what’s even available.

    There’s a point in time where the amount of spices I have in my pantry would be enough to count me amongst the wealthy. Hell, dinner tonight would have made a king blush with how much pepper I used.

    • WizardofFrobozz@lemmy.ca
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      4 days ago

      we’re both using devices that the most powerful people in the world would have absolutely no possibility of using anything close to as recently as 100 years ago.

      Hell, even 30 years ago

    • gandalf_der_12te@discuss.tchncs.de
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      4 days ago

      So it’s not just efficiency gains, but fundamental gains in what’s even available.

      If you’re talking about computers, computers were available in 1900, just that it was actually women (mostly) in an office doing the maths by hand.

      Similar to the “AI” meme comment - “Actually Indians”

      • ricecake@sh.itjust.works
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        3 days ago

        :) that’s why I referred to available technology, not the word. “Computers” were available, both as people and as semi-algorithmic adding machines, but the speed, capabilities and operating principles were different to a degree that the only similarities are a name and an abstract mathematical model.

        Although picturing the brigades of women with adding machines occasionally sending a telegram to create a 1900s Internet is amusing.