Ask HN: Has anyone achieved Douglas Engelbart's Vision?

1 pointsvicktorium2y ago2 comments

hi hacker news.

i would like to know if anyone in software has achieved Douglas Engelbart's Vision?

that of the OnLine System, H-LAM/T, Bootstrapping etc.

if not, do you have anything that comes close to his vision for computing and collaboration?

something that would augment our ability to improve and our ability to collaborate and solve difficult problems?

2 comments

sargstuff2y ago

Any specific area?

Grace Hopper via Cobol, C programming language, unix, bsd, telnet, uucp/news groups/email, xerox alto, Allan Kay via smalltalk, linux, sequel/postgres, gmail/aol/yahoo, AI (chatgpt), video/hardware emulation with or/without VM layer[3]. software defined radio, open broadcaster software[0], etc.

SpaceX spacecraft total software control panel[1] (vs. apollo phsycial wired switches/buttons )

snarky-> spacex 'soft/flexibile' space suit. Does this snarky concept open the way to 'soft' 3d printed stuff, as long as it's "wearable"?[2] aka astronaut carrying compressed soft origami chair/table.

[0] obs : https://obsproject.com/

[1] : https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27115372

[2] : risc-v on FPGA : https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39050580

[3] : https://www.mikekohn.net/micro/riscv_fpga.php

jonjacky2y ago

It might not be possible anymore, due to security issues. This was pointed out here in 2018, in https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17194937 :

... Engelbart's system was a completely shared space in which everyone lived and was trusted, then of course our systems are inelegant by comparison. ...

That whole post, and the thread where it occurs https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17194456 are worth re-reading.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse