Jonathan Zittrain: The Future of the Internet and How to Stop It

Here are my notes and quotes so far -

“The Apple II was quintessentially generative technology. It was a platform. It invited people to tinker with it.”

“Both (the PC and the internet) were generative: they were designed to accept any contribution that followed a basic set of rules (either coded for a particular operating system, or respecting the protocols of the Internet).”

Herman Hollerith invented a way to tabulate US census data automatically using a new system punch card system. His Tabulating Machine Company eventually became IBM.

IBM’s original model involved leasing of mainframe computers and software to customers. It was non-generative.

“The essence – and genius – of separating software creation from hardware constructions is that the decoupling enables a computer to be acquired for one purpose and then used to perform new and different tasks without requiring the equivalent of a visit to the mechanic’s shop.”