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The Morganic Eye on Culture

Tuesday, April 14

Eyes on Evolution

First there were organisms. Sensory input from directly proximal stimuli.
Then eyes, which reflected light coming from a distance.
Then language. We could explain what we saw and convert the information into something that 'accelerates learning'.

Then the photograph. Harnessing computation at the molecular level and creating a read out for others to see.
Digital sensor - a universal mathematical readout of an image in binary. Further unifying the interpretation in both the human and machine world.
Digital cameras outsell performance film cameras in the consumer market. Then the prosumer market. Then the professional market.

This is the perfect example of the Law of Accelerating Returns because each of these paradigms were only possible because of the mindset that the previous paradigm had left behind.
It also illuminates how short those paradigms last for as they continue.

In my head the difference between a D90 and a D70 from Nikon is more than 5 years. It's closer to 50 years of research in a Bell Laboratory in 1890.
But, but, but....
No buts! These are the factors:
-more people using cameras.
-more people talking to each other about cameras.
-more people (this is crucial) buying cameras.
-more camera companies.
-more camera research (sensors, lens, etc)
-the fact that this research comes from more than the camera industry at an accelerating rate (space telescope development, cameras mounted on rovers, image detection technology, etc) because...
-more people from outside the industry are doing experiments and research and combining ideas online.

Am I pointing to a super-duper camera? No, I'm just making an unprepared argument for Accelerating Returns as a fact and not a concept.
Obviously, very briefly.

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