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Welcome to My
Revolution
There was quite a bit of
hoo-ha when the Mac was unveiled nearly ten years ago.
Some say there was more ha! than anything else because
the machine was so trumped up. Although quite remarkable,
it could not live up to the expectations Steve Jobs had
planted in everyone's brains. But, after combining the
Mac with the LaserWriter, old Steve had the last laugh.
Computer powered production AND high quality output in
the hands of the people. POW! It got my attention.
Fortunately, I wasn't the
only one. Thanks to millions of others who also
recognized not only the Mac's potential but their own, a
multi-billion dollar industry was born. Apple couldn't
even keep up with the projections. Nobody knew how big
this would get. DTP turned out to be the Beatles of the
computer world.
In order to understand the
role of DeskTop Publishing in the scheme of things, it is
first important to look at the role of the
computer--yeah, even those by the Blue boys--as it takes
its place in the landmarks Hall of Fame.
James Burke, the noted
writer and producer of PBS specials such as
"Connections" and "The Day the Universe
Changed," spoke on an Apple DTP video I saw in the
early days. According to Mr. Burke, the power of DeskTop
Publishing does not actually lie in the computer itself
although it plays a very significant part. The real power
is the people. What follows is a synthesis of several of
his books and shows.
Create
Opinion, Seize Power
Throughout history there
have been global developments which changed the nature of
the universe as it is perceived by humans. Burke contends
that since the essence of a viewers world is bound by
their perception, when their perception changes, it has
the effect on that individual as if the world itself has
changed.
At the same time, people
in positions of power and influence greatly seek to
control and/or limit the amount of information available
to the perceptions of the general public in order to
preserve the balance of that power (in their favor, of
course).
The balance of the world
comes from the majority of the people working while being
ruled by an elite group on enlightened leaders: Kings,
Queens, the Church and the like. It takes a godawful lot
of work to keep the world running so you can't have gobs
of people standing around wasting time reading and
thinking when there is so much work to be done. This
arrangement makes sense--especially to the ruling elite
who spend most of their time reading and thinking about
these things.
Until recently, each time
there was a technological or otherwise significant
development, it was generally controlled by the elite. In
the beginning, they were the ones who could read and
write after all so it kind of put the odds of discovery
on their side. And, it being their solemn duty to guide
the advancement of the people, they would maintain
control of their positions by controlling the information
regarding the new developments. Control perception,
control the universe. TOP END
The
Emperor's New Clothes
Sometimes, however, an
individual's experience differs from the sanctioned view.
Combined experiences of the masses swell to a point,
traditional views are challenged, and the whole system
gets thrown up in the air. At these times, there is a
chance for a power sift.
Take, for example, the
time when people (in accordance with the official Church
view) accepted the world was flat. In that day, the North
Star was the key to navigation on the seas. But there was
a point where, as ships sailed across the horizon, they
would lose sight of this focal point. Without the pivotal
guiding point, any sailor would most likely get lost
never to be seen again. Based on the perception of the
day, they obviously fell off the edge of the world. The
experience of the people did not contradict the view of
the Church and everything was hunky-dory.
That is until one day when
somebody had the keen idea of sailing down the coast of
what is now known as Africa until they lost sight of the
North Star. Using the coast as a guide (a treacherous
journey owing to shallow waters and strong tides), they
ventured back with solid evidence that the world did not
end beyond what was considered the point of no return.
Their journey did not prove as treacherous as the
situation upon their return. This was due to the Church
having another point of view founded in scripture.
It did not matter that the
writers of the Bible couldn't have written about
something they didn't know existed. This did not stop the
Church from holding the view, "if it's not in the
scripture, it does not exist." So what if these guys
just got back from a trip claiming there was something
out there. Their experience countered the established
view. When in doubt, excommunicate.
Fortunately for everyone,
the Queen of Spain saw profit as a much more guiding
influence and was not so threatened by the Church that
she did not see reason in Columbus' request to fund an
expedition. He and the Queen wanted the goods from India
and their scheme relied on proof of the new theory. So it
was on consequentially that he proved, once and for all,
the world was round. TOP END
Meet
the New Boss, Same as the Old Boss
Eventually, more and more
personal experiences pilled up against the traditional
view and the official word was begrudgingly also changed.
Too late for the victims of the inquisition, but hey!
Everybody makes mistakes. All was not lost. Money still
resided with the Church. You had to have money to travel
the world--flat or not. No big loss if the people want to
believe the world is round. A little damage control on
this stuff not being covered in scripture--no problem.
And so it goes with each
new technological development. Each time with it comes
more free thought for the masses. And when the masses get
free thought, they start to wonder why they are doing all
the work. They revolt, the work stops. Things fall apart.
New leaders pick up the pieces and around we go again. TOP END
Power
To The People
The invention of the
Personal Computer has begun to make a change in this
vicious cycle. For the first time, two major elements in
technological advancement are new.
One new element is that
the computer is not only a tool which frees time, it also
does the work. Unlike a hoe or a cotton gin, the manpower
needed to run a computer does not have to increase along
with the production curve. The same work can be done by
fewer people and more people are free to think and learn
and grow.
The other, and much more
radical element in this equation, is the power of this
tool was discovered, developed and escalated by the
people themselves. It wasn't kept a deep, dark secret in
a laboratory. The knowledge to control it was not
withheld and doled out in measured fashion in order to
maintain a limited sphere of power.
Anyone with the insight to
recognize the power of the computer and the ability to
learn how to tap this power now has the capability to
create their own empire.
I don't know if Steve Jobs
envisioned this aspect of the DTP revolution. Whatever
his reasons, I will be forever indebted to him for his
creation. It was through his efforts that I could
envision myself in a position of power over my own
destiny. A mythical state, to be sure, but a
self-empowering one.
This is the power of the
computer. It is an enabler of the actualization. With it,
you can visualize yourself doing things which before
seemed impossible. It is only when you can see yourself
really carrying out your ideas that you begin to actually
do something about it. And the great part is individuals
can now sent their own agendas since the power rests in
their hands and not subject to the will of the elite few.
TOP
Bill Bricker
specializes in information architecture and computer
illustration. He designed the logo for Todd Rundgren's
Utopia reunion tour.
        
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