Are we just running in place?

From	RS Wood <rsw@therandymon.com>
Newsgroups	[CM] comp.misc, alt.folklore.computers
Subject	Are we just running in place?
Date	2015-10-30 15:53 +0300
Message-ID	<d9h7ivF1apvU1@mid.individual.net> (permalink)

Cross-posted to 2 groups.

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http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/10/15/junk_your_it_now_before_it_drags_you_under/ 


//--clip
In practice, the growing sophistication of software has meant that 
while computers certainly feel faster than they did thirty or forty 
years ago, the difference - as far as our perceptions are concerned - 
isn’t nearly as great. Files might load a thousand times faster, but we 
still experience a perceptible interval between selecting “Open...” and 
being able to work on a file.
Thirty years ago, Ted Nelson, one of the great visionaries of 
computing, said that our devices had to deliver a ‘bingo effect’ - as 
soon as you reached out for a document, it should be there, ready to 
edit. Today we open a document in Microsoft Word - even on a multi-Ghz 
machine with a solid state disk and plenty of RAM - in a process that 
always takes a few seconds. And it always has. Sure, it takes a few 
less seconds than it may have back in 1986, using Microsoft Word on the 
first Macintosh Plus, but where’s that thousand-fold improvement from 
Moore’s Law?
A decade ago virtual reality pioneer Jaron Lanier noted the complexity 
of software seems to outpace improvements in hardware, giving us the 
sense that we’re running in place. Our computers, he argued, have 
become more complex and less reliable. We can see the truth of this 
everywhere: Networked systems provide massive capacities but introduce 
great vulnerabilities. Simple programs bloat with endless features. 
Things get worse, not better.
Anyone who’s built a career in IT understands this technical debt. 
Legacy systems persist for decades. Every major operating system - 
desktop and mobile - has bugs so persistent they seem more like 
permanent features than temporary mistakes. Yet we constantly build 
news things on top of these increasingly rickety scaffolds. We do more, 
so we crash more - our response to that has been to make crashes as 
nearly painless as possible. The hard lockups and BSODs of a few years 
ago have morphed a momentary disappearance, as if nothing of real 
consequence has happened.
Worse still, we seem to regard every aspect of IT with a ridiculous and 
undeserved sense of permanence. We don’t want to throw away our old 
computers while they still work. We don’t want to abandon our old 
programs. Some of that is pure sentimentality - after all, why keep 
using something that’s slow and increasingly less useful? More of it 
reflects the investment of time and attention spent learning a 
sophisticated piece of software.
The processes that software encapsulates will inevitably be examined, 
improved, refined, and repackaged as other processes.
Yet a commitment to obsolescence is the unspoken agreement for all 
things IT. Yes, you may treasure that NetWare server with sixteen years 
continuous uptime, but does it really have utility when everyone, 
everywhere can access cloud-based data storage API? Embracing the new 
requires us to loosen our grip on the old.
Some may well be thinking: that way lies madness. If we changed our 
systems all the time, nothing would work. Consider: nearly every 
organisation of any scale has legacy (but functioning) systems so old 
they can no longer be upgraded or even maintained properly. Uptime has 
become a god, and capacity has been sacrificed on its altar.
Another view is that the industry that creates disruption is ironically 
terrified to disrupt itself. The biggest vendors cleverly act more as 
psychiatrists than problem-solvers, soothing fears, reassuring IT 
managers with gentle whispers of ‘Everything will be alright,’ as both 
walk a garden path into irrelevance.
Embracing change means abandoning the false sense of stability IT has 
offered management as part of its bargain to increase productivity. 
Productivity is not a function of stability. It’s about the wholesale 
revision of business processes to meet or generate market needs. 
Productivity demands that we junk everything comfortable, everything 
safe, everything stable, set our faces to the wind, and explore the 
unknown. The IT department that fails to heed this lesson fails the 
business it serves. A recent quip from Saul Kaplan puts it best: 
“Marginal cost of staying the same is rising. Think of it as inflation 
eating away at your relevancy rather than capital.”
Hostage to forces that want to contain its disruptive nature, IT has 
become infrastructure where it should always be a strategic asset, 
wielded like a blade, cutting a swath through markets and competitors. 
How many IT departments can say they are the most important element of 
the business? Not many. That’s the sure sign that IT is itself ready to 
be utterly disrupted. ®
//--clip

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Are we just running in place? RS Wood <rsw@therandymon.com> - 2015-10-30 15:53 +0300
  Re: Are we just running in place? "gareth" <no.spam@thank.you.invalid> - 2015-10-30 13:43 +0000
    Re: Are we just running in place? Dan Espen <despen@verizon.net> - 2015-10-30 10:28 -0400
      Re: Are we just running in place? Stan Barr <plan.b@bluesomatic.org> - 2015-10-30 15:34 +0000
        Re: Are we just running in place?     wje@acm.org (Bill Evans) - 2015-10-30 09:05 -0700
          Re: Are we just running in place? Dan Espen <despen@verizon.net> - 2015-10-30 13:25 -0400
            Re: Are we just running in place? Bob Eager <news0005@eager.cx> - 2015-10-30 17:28 +0000
            Re: Are we just running in place? scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2015-10-30 18:32 +0000
              Re: Are we just running in place? Jorgen Grahn <grahn+nntp@snipabacken.se> - 2015-11-01 20:01 +0000
                Re: Are we just running in place? Paul Sture <nospam@sture.ch> - 2015-11-04 10:11 +0100
                Re: Are we just running in place? scott@alfter.diespammersdie.us (Scott Alfter) - 2015-11-04 22:29 +0000
                Re: Are we just running in place? Larry Sheldon <lfsheldon@gmail.com> - 2015-11-04 16:44 -0600
                Re: Are we just running in place? Dan Espen <despen@verizon.net> - 2015-11-04 23:04 -0500
                Re: Are we just running in place? Larry Sheldon <lfsheldon@gmail.com> - 2015-11-04 22:34 -0600
                Re: Are we just running in place? RS Wood <rsw@therandymon.com> - 2015-11-05 10:30 +0300
                Re: Are we just running in place? Stephen Chadfield <stephen@chadfield.com> - 2015-11-05 13:39 +0000
          Re: Are we just running in place? Bob Eager <news0005@eager.cx> - 2015-10-30 17:30 +0000
            Re: Are we just running in place? Stan Barr <plan.b@bluesomatic.org> - 2015-10-31 08:05 +0000
        Re: Are we just running in place? Paul Sture <nospam@sture.ch> - 2015-11-04 10:01 +0100
      Re: Are we just running in place? "gareth" <no.spam@thank.you.invalid> - 2015-10-30 17:34 +0000
        Re: Are we just running in place? Dan Espen <despen@verizon.net> - 2015-10-30 13:49 -0400
          Re: Are we just running in place? "gareth" <no.spam@thank.you.invalid> - 2015-10-30 18:23 +0000
            Re: Are we just running in place? scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2015-10-30 18:59 +0000
            Re: Are we just running in place? Mike Spencer <mds@bogus.nodomain.nowhere> - 2015-11-01 01:33 -0300
            Re: Are we just running in place? Paul Sture <nospam@sture.ch> - 2015-11-04 10:19 +0100
              Re: Are we just running in place? Bob Eager <news0005@eager.cx> - 2015-11-04 21:21 +0000
        Re: Are we just running in place? scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2015-10-30 18:33 +0000
          Re: Are we just running in place? Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2015-11-01 12:59 -0500
            Re: Are we just running in place? scott@alfter.diespammersdie.us (Scott Alfter) - 2015-11-03 17:29 +0000
              Re: Are we just running in place? fmassei@gmail.com - 2015-11-03 10:14 -0800
        Re: Are we just running in place? Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2015-10-30 18:39 +0000
          Re: Are we just running in place? "gareth" <no.spam@thank.you.invalid> - 2015-10-30 19:22 +0000
            Re: Are we just running in place? "Dirk T. Verbeek" <dverbeek@xs4all.nl> - 2015-10-30 20:27 +0100
              Re: Are we just running in place? bde@besplex.bde.org (Bruce Evans) - 2015-10-30 20:08 +0000
                Re: Are we just running in place? Richard Kettlewell <rjk@greenend.org.uk> - 2015-10-30 21:21 +0000
                Re: Are we just running in place? bde@besplex.bde.org (Bruce Evans) - 2015-10-31 04:15 +0000
                Re: Are we just running in place? scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2015-11-02 14:19 +0000
                Re: Are we just running in place? bde@besplex.bde.org (Bruce Evans) - 2015-11-02 16:15 +0000
                Re: Are we just running in place? Dan Espen <despen@verizon.net> - 2015-11-02 12:29 -0500
                Re: Are we just running in place? scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2015-11-02 19:13 +0000
                Re: Are we just running in place? bde@besplex.bde.org (Bruce Evans) - 2015-11-02 21:25 +0000
                Re: Are we just running in place? scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2015-11-03 14:03 +0000
            Re: Are we just running in place? Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2015-10-30 21:11 +0000
        Re: Are we just running in place? Mike Spencer <mds@bogus.nodomain.nowhere> - 2015-11-01 01:23 -0300
      Re: Are we just running in place? RS Wood <rsw@therandymon.com> - 2015-10-30 20:05 +0000
    Re: Are we just running in place? Johnny B Good <johnny-b-good@invalid.ntlworld.com> - 2015-10-30 19:53 +0000
      Re: Are we just running in place? Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2015-11-01 12:09 -0500
    Re: Are we just running in place? "gareth" <no.spam@thank.you.invalid> - 2015-11-01 09:42 +0000
      Re: Are we just running in place? jmfbahciv <See.above@aol.com> - 2015-11-01 13:33 +0000
        Re: Are we just running in place? "Rod Speed" <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> - 2015-11-02 12:45 +1100
          Re: Are we just running in place? Morten Reistad <first@last.name.invalid> - 2015-11-02 11:06 +0100
    Re: Are we just running in place? Waldek Hebisch <hebisch@math.uni.wroc.pl> - 2015-11-03 22:06 +0000
      Re: Are we just running in place? Morten Reistad <first@last.name.invalid> - 2015-11-03 23:43 +0100
        Re: Are we just running in place? jmfbahciv <See.above@aol.com> - 2015-11-04 13:52 +0000
      Re: Are we just running in place? BartC <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-11-03 23:46 +0000
        Re: Are we just running in place? Waldek Hebisch <hebisch@math.uni.wroc.pl> - 2015-11-04 04:35 +0000
          Re: Are we just running in place? Morten Reistad <first@last.name.invalid> - 2015-11-04 10:24 +0100
            Re: Are we just running in place? Ahem A Rivet's Shot <steveo@eircom.net> - 2015-11-04 09:55 +0000
              Re: Are we just running in place? Morten Reistad <first@last.name.invalid> - 2015-11-04 12:42 +0100
          Re: Are we just running in place? BartC <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-11-04 14:57 +0000
            Re: Are we just running in place? Dan Espen <despen@verizon.net> - 2015-11-04 11:29 -0500
            Re: Are we just running in place? scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2015-11-04 16:43 +0000
            Re: Are we just running in place? Morten Reistad <first@last.name.invalid> - 2015-11-04 17:55 +0100
              Re: Are we just running in place? BartC <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-11-04 18:04 +0000
                Re: Are we just running in place? scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2015-11-04 18:48 +0000
                Re: Are we just running in place? "Osmium" <r124c4u102@comcast.net> - 2015-11-04 13:05 -0600
                Re: Are we just running in place? BartC <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-11-04 19:36 +0000
                Re: Are we just running in place? Morten Reistad <first@last.name.invalid> - 2015-11-04 21:15 +0100
                Re: Are we just running in place? BartC <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-11-04 21:35 +0000
            Re: Are we just running in place? Kees Nuyt <k.nuyt@nospam.demon.nl> - 2015-11-04 21:07 +0100
        Re: Are we just running in place? Richard Kettlewell <rjk@greenend.org.uk> - 2015-11-04 10:36 +0000
      Re: Are we just running in place? "gareth" <no.spam@thank.you.invalid> - 2015-11-03 23:52 +0000
        Re: Are we just running in place? Andrew Swallow <am.swallow@btinternet.com> - 2015-11-04 02:56 +0000
          Re: Are we just running in place? "gareth" <no.spam@thank.you.invalid> - 2015-11-04 11:05 +0000
        Re: Are we just running in place? Waldek Hebisch <hebisch@math.uni.wroc.pl> - 2015-11-04 03:12 +0000
          Re: Are we just running in place? Morten Reistad <first@last.name.invalid> - 2015-11-04 10:02 +0100
            Re: Are we just running in place? Andreas Eder <a_eder_muc@web.de> - 2015-11-08 11:48 +0100
        Re: Are we just running in place? Paul Sture <nospam@sture.ch> - 2015-11-04 10:36 +0100
        Re: Are we just running in place? "John Jackson" <jj@nospam.com> - 2015-11-05 09:01 +1100
          Re: Are we just running in place? "gareth" <no.spam@thank.you.invalid> - 2015-11-05 00:09 +0000
      Re: Are we just running in place? Peter Flass <peter_flass@yahoo.com> - 2015-11-04 11:03 -0500
        Re: Are we just running in place? Bob Eager <news0005@eager.cx> - 2015-11-04 21:25 +0000
        Re: Are we just running in place? Stan Barr <plan.b@bluesomatic.org> - 2015-11-05 08:01 +0000
  Re: Are we just running in place? "78lp" <78lp@nospam.com> - 2015-10-31 15:09 +1100
  Re: Are we just running in place? "gareth" <no.spam@thank.you.invalid> - 2015-10-31 11:11 +0000
    Re: Are we just running in place? RS Wood <rsw@therandymon.com> - 2015-10-31 14:57 +0300
    Re: Are we just running in place? Dan Espen <despen@verizon.net> - 2015-10-31 10:19 -0400
      Re: Are we just running in place? "gareth" <no.spam@thank.you.invalid> - 2015-10-31 16:28 +0000
    Re: Are we just running in place?     wje@acm.org (Bill Evans) - 2015-10-31 04:14 -0700

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