50th Anniversary of the Mother of All Demos (2018)
And yet we still haven't learned enough from it.<p>The fact computers have been so isolated from one another (even with internet apps) is a complete tragedy. Even sending large files is a pain in the butt to this day.<p>The demo had multiple people working on the same computer remotely, with their own cursors and ability to do things on the system at the same time.<p>Best we have now is web-browsers syncing data silos, or a one way "let this person control my mouse + keyboard".<p>It feels like building a bridge by everyone making parts in isolation then expensively shipping it to the work site that only has one crane to assemble them.<p>Usually it's way easier to have multiple people work on something. Like carrying something heavy, or having a line of people walk the bridge with the right tools/verification to install the rivets right, or even the opportunity for someone to speak up present unique ideas to the group.<p>Even just a few basic OS primitives early on could have jump started so much collaboration tools and techniques that mirror how we all work together everywhere else in real life.<p>As an aside, the whole "meta-verse" craze might pull these ideas through to the mainstream again.<p>I see lots of demos of avatars standing at a table working on stuff together, and I've been on VR chat before drawing 3d images with crayons at the same time with other people.<p>It's incredibly fun to try and draw an elephant together and work on different parts at the same time to hilarious results.