Mark Zuckerburg,  Time Magazine 2010 Person of the Year, and my Choice for the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize
 
I am in awe of what has changed in the Middle East in 2011.
When I was growing up in the dark ages of the computer business (in the 80’s), there began to be the discussion of what will be “The Next Killer Technology”.  For those of you old enough to recall, the main driver of PC technology was replacing dedicated word processing systems such as Wang Word Processors, or simple accounting systems such as the IBM Datamaster with PC’s.  LAN’s and servers replaced mini’s and mainframes, and on and on.

Of course, the late 90’s saw the invention of The Internet (Thanks Al) and the web, which we all can agree was The Next Killer Technology.  In the words of William Shatner, “The Internet is going to be big—really big!”


So here we are in 2011, and it is clear to me that the next “Killer Technology (or Killer App in our current language) is “Revolution”.
The convergence of smart phone technology, the web and social networking has done more to change the world than 100 years of Middle Eastern diplomacy (Yes, I know Middle Eastern diplomacy is an oxymoron).  The Arab Spring certainly would never have happened they way it happened had it not been for the invention of Tim Berners-Lee, credited for the first browser prototype, Marc Andressen (raised in Wisconsin, by the way), creator of Mosaic, the first useable browser, Sharp & Kyrocera, creators of the first phones with integrated cameras, and Mark Zuckerburg, creator of Facebook. 

RIM deserves a lot of credit (before they go out of business) for proving in 1999 that wireless email communication was addictive and a “Must Have.” 

2011 saw hundreds of gatherings of hundreds of thousands of repressed Egyptian, Libyan, Syrian and other Middle Eastern citizens was coordinated on Facebook.  It gave a voice to people who have had none.  We saw, practically in real time, the gruesome documentation of the end of the Gaddafi, captured on cell phone video.  Imagine if our own Civil War had had this historical record!  But what is most amazing is that 20 years worth of technological developments converged and in nine months changed the world!

Look at this time line:
1990:       Tim Berners-Lee develops first prototype browser
1993:       Marc Andressen’s Mosaic Browser appears
1996:       Kyocera VP-210 Visual Phone, First phone with video Camera
1999:       First Blackberry sold (BTW, my company was one of the first 10 Blackberry dealers in the US)

2004        Facebook founded by Mark Zuckerberg, at the age of 20, ONE YEAR AFTER THE BEGINNING OF THE IRAQ WAR

2011        As of October 2011, revolutions have resulted in the overthrow of three heads of state in less than one year. Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia on 14 January following the Tunisian revolution protests. In Egypt, President Hosni Mubarak resigned on 11 February 2011 after 18 days of massive protests, ending his 30-year presidency. Former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown on 23 August 2011, after the National Transitional Council (NTC) took control of Bab al-Azizia. He was killed on 20 October 2011, in his hometown of Sirte after the NTC took control of the city.  Lot’s of gruesome video available on YouTube.  (Taken from Wikipedia)

So here is my big take on all of this:

1.    These major, major changes in our world all started with a simple idea.  (Cataloging online information, wirelessly sending a photograph, meeting girls.)
2.    Much of the technology that changed the world was invented by somebody in their 20’s.  I vow to listen more closely to the 20-year olds!
3.    As Carlos Rizowy said 1998 at a TEC meeting, “The Satellite Dish will do more to overthrow dictatorships than tanks.”  The only thing Carlos missed was the key technology, but he had the concept spot on.

So at the risk of showing my age, I’ll admit I can’t get this song out of my head

John Lennon—Revolution, 1968

You say you want a revolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
You tell me that it's evolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know that you can count me out
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
all right, all right


 

You say you got a real solution
Well, you know
We'd all love to see the plan
You ask me for a contribution
Well, you know
We're doing what we can
But when you want money
for people with minds that hate
All I can tell is brother you have to wait
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
all right, all right

ah, ah, ah, ah, ah...

You say you'll change the constitution
Well, you know
We all want to change your head
You tell me it's the institution
Well, you know
You better free you mind instead
But if you go carrying pictures of chairman Mao
You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
all right, all right
all right, all right, all right
all right, all right, all right