If you took someone from 1951 and brought them to the present day, how would they react to our computerised methods? Would they even be able to understand the concept of digital information? Could they understand how their legers are now done in electronic form on MS Excel et al?

How would you even begin to explain to them what a modern laptop is?

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2 good 2 need 4 engines

They'd probably kiss Bill Gate's feet.

Well, assuming you are referiing to Luciel Ball, my guess is she would ask "Are there still comdies on T.V.?" And when told 'yes', she would restart her career and make a mint.

As for an "everyman"... I think you underestimate the cranial capacity of the average human being. Sure, there would be a steep learning curve at first as basic concept will have to be taught instead of absorbed through conversations/media/etc. But as for understanding concepts, I think someone from 1951 would have as easy of a time as anyone else.

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Carl Matherly

Offical Battlestar Galactica Apologist

Named Time Magazine's 2006 "Person of the Year"

Yes?

If you bring them here at my rate, they'd understand fine. They'd even be responsible for some of it.

If you brought them here fast, not over decades, I suppose they might be surprised, but probably willing and able to learn about the tools.

Some might understand a lot right away, while some might take lots of training -- just like randomly selected students of today.

It's not like nothing was digital in those days. Their knowledge about adding machines and telephones and television would give them a good basis for understanding today's refinements.

Even a caveman could do it.

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I remember Arthur Clarke describing how Leonardo could in principle build and operate a digital picture transmitter (I think it was in Profiles of the Future).

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The Devil offered me power. I told him I preferred aperture.

Still plenty of them around

IMO, It would depend on the age of the person you brought here. I believe Douglas Adams said it somewhere [massively paraphrased]: "If you're born with a technology, it's always been part of your life and you can't imagine being without it. If you are in your teens/20s when a technology comes up, you'll learn about it and can probably make a career out of it. If you are older, then the new technology will be mysterious and unnecessary. "

People who can quote more accurately welcome to do so.

I think it depends on the person. Computers were not unknown in 1951, and in fact were common in science fiction. Dick Tracy had his wrist radio long before cell phones came along. So a 1951 geek would probably be right at home, and in fact would probably be disappointed that we didn't have flying cars or a moon base.

But there are people who lived through the development of this stuff, and are still not comfortable with it. And yes, the older they are, the more likely they fall into this category. But even my 84 year old mother-in-law has a cell phone and uses a DVD player (though I can't quite get her to do e-mail).

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At night the stars put on a show for free (Carole King)

One Earth, One Sky - IYA 2009

I quite agree that the age of the person matters. (It isn't the only factor, admittedly, but it matters.) When I was young, it was a truism that only children could set the clocks on VCRs. (When a lot of you were young, there weren't VCRs. But we'll pass on that.) Certainly my mother is even more hopeless with computers than I.

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Gillian

"Now everyone was giving her that kind of look UFOlogists get when they suddenly say, 'Hey, if you shade your eyes you can see it is just a flock of geese after all.'"

"You can't erase icing."

"I can't believe it doesn't work! I found it on the internet, man!"

I don't think Lucy would have had any problems with a laptop computer. First, there is the keyboard, with only a few changes to the typewriter layout. Second, there is the screen. Maybe not the CRT screen she was accustomed to, but its function would be obvious once the computer is turned on. The mouse and/or touchpad might require some explaining, but not much.

As for the software, Lucy would immediately appreciate the use of a word-processor. She would especially like seeing something on the screen that looks somewhat like the letter that will print--and the ability to edit it before printing, simply priceless! No erasers (white-out had not been invented yet in 1951)! And the printing! Copies without carbon-paper! (Remember carbon-paper?)

As for spreadsheets, the spreadsheet program is nothing but a translation to computer and automation of the spreadsheets that used to be done on blackboards (lots of blackboards!) by economists. As one of the co-owners of Desilu Productions the ability to plan with it would be obvious -- as would the use of presentation software.

As to the matters of ejecting the floppy by throwing it in the trash and pressing the "Start" button to initiate machine shutdown, now someone has some 'splainin' to do!

In other words, a lot of the components of the laptop computer were present and familiar to Lucy and others living in 1951. Now if you really want to have fun, how would Thomas Jefferson react?

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Microsoft is over if you want it.

The bar has been lowered for the promotion of ATM ideas; the bar for the acceptance of ATM ideas must remain high.

I STILL have problems setting teh clock on the VCR.. but setting the one on the DVR is easy

I don't think it's age, I think it's mind-set. Now, mind-set is frequently linked to age, but age is not the mind killer.

One of my primary jobs at my company is 'breaker'. We start something new, I establish the initial process. I also test processes and software periodically. I'm not the oldest person there (not quite), but I AM one of only two with a ravenous desire to do new things. Learn new stuff. I also have a tendency to think.. weird.

Looking at my family (parents and siblings), I have to agree with the gentleman who said "When you stop learning, you start dying". My parents each have a computer, they have a cell phone, they have a VCR, DVR, even a color TV!

The kids all grew up looking under rocks and chinning ourselves on walls (figuratively, as well as literally). We are the Warner Brothers mouse that always pushes the button marked 'don't push this button'. I am convinced this is why people consistently guess my age at 10 to 15 years younger than I really am.

Remember, once cerebral ossification sets in, the body follows.

My first question was, "Who is Lucy?" Now it's, "How did you know it was Lucille Ball?"

CJSF

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Two years ago moved from my town
I was looking up past the city lights
But the city lights got in my way

See the constellation ride across the sky
No cigar, no lady on his arm
Just a guy made of dots and lines

-from "See The Constellation"
by They Might Be Giants

Dang it. I made a post, but the system didn't get it.

So. "1951" was our clue, I think--but she was neither the first nor the second "Lucy" I thought of.

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Gillian

"Now everyone was giving her that kind of look UFOlogists get when they suddenly say, 'Hey, if you shade your eyes you can see it is just a flock of geese after all.'"

"You can't erase icing."

"I can't believe it doesn't work! I found it on the internet, man!"

How would Lucy react?

She'd probably raise her rates!

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A person's name, or a mark representing it, as signed personally or by deputy, as in subscribing a letter or other document.

That's the first Lucy I thought of, yeah.

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Gillian

"Now everyone was giving her that kind of look UFOlogists get when they suddenly say, 'Hey, if you shade your eyes you can see it is just a flock of geese after all.'"

"You can't erase icing."

"I can't believe it doesn't work! I found it on the internet, man!"

There's is only one Lucy. All others are imposters and traitors to the Lilt home permanent.

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2 good 2 need 4 engines

Lucy Van Pelt was the first one I thought of, too. I still don't get it. Why Lucy?

CJSF

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Two years ago moved from my town
I was looking up past the city lights
But the city lights got in my way

See the constellation ride across the sky
No cigar, no lady on his arm
Just a guy made of dots and lines

-from "See The Constellation"
by They Might Be Giants

I first thought of this Lucy, when I saw the title, considering how much we talk about evolution.

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At night the stars put on a show for free (Carole King)

One Earth, One Sky - IYA 2009

WWLD? (What Would Lucy Do?)

Lucy the comedian, find a way to work it into her business.

Lucy the character, cry out for Ricky.

Even bigger question, WWTTSD?

(What Would The Three Stooges Do?)

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Don of Borg - Cool, Calm, Collective.

"Within the next generation I believe that the world's leaders will discover that infant conditioning and narco-hypnosis are more efficient, as instruments of government, than clubs and prisons, and that the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

My first thought (even before the thread opened) was "She'd yank the football away, like she always does."

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In Fallout 3, 'happiness' is a warm junkyard dog and a loaded gun. It's mostly the loaded gun.
- Moose's one-line review.

"your going to regret that one. You are now a colonoscope...
- Chrissy, corrupting PraedSt's wish.