Introduction
Linux Voice
The unstoppable march of progress.
The unstoppable march of progress
We often talk about modern technology as advanced, and think of it as the pinnacle of electronics mastery. It's not. Future historians will look back on the devices and computers we use now and think of them as the first, fledgling attempts by a people still getting to grips with the ideas and concepts of the area. Don't forget that we're still well within the first hundred years of programmable computers, which may seem like a long time, but in terms of human progress, it barely counts as a moment. I don't have a magic looking glass that tells me which way technology will go, but I am sure that the golden age of computing is ahead of us, and not behind.
If you think of it in terms of another icon of modern technology, the car, the Ford Model T didn't come out until 139 years after the first full-sized, steam-powered car. Today's so-called advanced technology will come to be viewed as we view cars of the 1800s. It's clunky, creaky and primitive, but it's also exciting, because now is the time when things are changing fast and advancements come quickly.
One thing about advancement is that when things have truly advanced, they become mundane. When there are no more giant leaps of progress, things quickly become ordinary. So, maybe our computers are slow and prone to failure, but they're exciting in way future generations will never be able to understand.
This month, we're focusing on the emerging technologies of the future, not the past. Simon Phipps takes a look at how copyright could change to support digital progress, Valentine Sinitsyn shows you how to work with virtual machines, Mike Saunders looks at the future of LibreOffice and I embrace systemd.
The future is coming; let's reach out and grab it.
– Ben Everard
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Fedora 40 Beta Released Soon
With the official release of Fedora 40 coming in April, it's almost time to download the beta and see what's new.
-
New Pentesting Distribution to Compete with Kali Linux
SnoopGod is now available for your testing needs
-
Juno Computers Launches Another Linux Laptop
If you're looking for a powerhouse laptop that runs Ubuntu, the Juno Computers Neptune 17 v6 should be on your radar.
-
ZorinOS 17.1 Released, Includes Improved Windows App Support
If you need or desire to run Windows applications on Linux, there's one distribution intent on making that easier for you and its new release further improves that feature.
-
Linux Market Share Surpasses 4% for the First Time
Look out Windows and macOS, Linux is on the rise and has even topped ChromeOS to become the fourth most widely used OS around the globe.
-
KDE’s Plasma 6 Officially Available
KDE’s Plasma 6.0 "Megarelease" has happened, and it's brimming with new features, polish, and performance.
-
Latest Version of Tails Unleashed
Tails 6.0 is based on Debian 12 and includes GNOME 43.
-
KDE Announces New Slimbook V with Plenty of Power and KDE’s Plasma 6
If you're a fan of KDE Plasma, you'll be thrilled to hear they've announced a new Slimbook with an AMD CPU and the latest version of KDE Plasma desktop.
-
Monthly Sponsorship Includes Early Access to elementary OS 8
If you want to get a glimpse of what's in the pipeline for elementary OS 8, just set up a monthly sponsorship to help fund its continued existence.
-
DebConf24 to be Held in South Korea
Busan will be the location of the latest DebConf running July 28 through August 4