Key Historical Visions for the Future of Computing and Digital Media

Abstract

From the earliest days of the development of computers there is clear evidence of visionary thinking that went far beyond the current capability. These developments and this visionary thinking are identified and summarized. In turn, hardware, software, interfaces, and applications have been revolutionized from the earliest days of computing to today. At the same time, a number of the transitions did not appear to develop seamlessly from one to the next but were constrained by a number of cultural or organizational factors. Developments in computing and digital media are not solely determined by the latest advances in technology.