Enjoying this generation’s peak hardware, while wondering what’s next…..

I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve flown across the Atlantic. The Pacific is easier, that’s right at 20.

My first trip to Europe was as a 19-year-old Army Private, off on a grand temporary duty (TDY) adventure to Germany. I saw Springsteen on his “Born In The USA” tour the day after I landed. It was trippy. (This was 1985, in case you’re not up on your Springsteen)

My most memorable flight across the pond was also in uniform. Desert tri color camouflage this time, on an Air Force C-17; we stopped in Germany to refuel as I recall. First week of October 2001. Scary and ohhh so uncertain days were those.

Kate and I were in Italy in 2022 to meet a new Grandbaby; I was 56. Getting close to 40 years I’ve been crossing the Atlantic for one reason or another, in an out of uniform.

While we were there, it dawned on me that this may be my last time on the other side of the Atlantic. That hit me. As I get older, I’ve become more and more cognizant of doing something for the last time. There was a last time I went outside to play with the kids in the neighborhood I grew up in; I don’t remember it though. I made a point of smelling an extra metaphorical rose on this trip to Italy. End of an era maybe?

It seems we’re at the crest of the wave for the next big thing, the next generation: AI. This will potentially be the most significant change in how we interact with each other and the world. In like ever. Its impact has been likened to that of electricity. We shall see.

I’m fortunate enough to be in a position where I can indulge in a bit of tech geek digital sluttery. I like and typically have the latest and greatest, I’m kinda that guy. Probably not much of a stretch to say that the $$ I used to spend on booze is now spent on digital tools / toys. Works for me, I didn’t get a hangover from buying the M3 MacBook Pro I’m typing on now, though I’ll confess to a nice dopamine hit from it.

I’m smelling the metaphorical roses of non AI optimized hardware I guess.

Here’s hoping I’m blessed with (at least) another 20 years on this adventure. I’ll bet that the phone I’ll be using then will have as much in common with my iPhone 15 Pro Max as it in turn has with the Kyocera candy bar phone I had in probably 2002 or 2. I don’t pine for that phone at all, but I think I just might my 15 ProMax. No offense to Team Samsung, I’m sure an S23 Ultra is every bit as good if that’s your jam. This is peak hardware of its generation time, and It’s been a helluva generation.

I saw a meme recently that said (words to the effect of) “I don’t know for sure what the band Rage Against The Machine is mad at, but I bet it’s a printer.” I felt that in my soul…..Now, I can print wirelessly. From my phone.

I couldn’t have conceived of what today’s phones or computers are capable of back in ’02 or ’03. Hundreds of gigabytes of on device storage, gigabytes of RAM. Wireless connectivity measured in the hundreds of megabits. On your phone. In your car going 75MPH. Social networking and instant awareness of what’s happening. Anywhere. Capacity, mobility, and media have (in my mind) defined the tech curve of the last 20 years. I bet it won’t define the next 20.

I have no idea what’s coming. I don’t think Skynet is much of a threat (please, God).

Here’s a guess……Kate and I are starting to plan a trip in the fall. There’s going to be hours of searching, scrolling, comparing, booking, ect ect ect. I bet that in 20 years, that doesn’t happen. We’ll tell our device (Ring? Belt buckle? Tattoo? Phone?) where and when we want to go, and that’s that. At some point, an itinerary that’s more or less perfect will appear, and away we go.

What’s your thinking about 20 years from now? Do you miss anything from 20 years ago? What’s your favorite tech use today? I’d love to hear your thoughts!!

Thanks for reading, be kind to yourself and everyone!!