50th Anniversary of the Mother of All Demos (2018)
And yet we still haven't learned enough from it.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.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.Best we have now is web-browsers syncing data silos, or a one way "let this person control my mouse + keyboard".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.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.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.As an aside, the whole "meta-verse" craze might pull these ideas through to the mainstream again.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.It's incredibly fun to try and draw an elephant together and work on different parts at the same time to hilarious results.