Shift Happens
Paradigm shifts – the transition from one idea or technology to a new one – are not rare. They happen all the time. Here are some examples from my personal experience.
1. Slide Rules to Pocket Calculators
In 1974, I was in the last freshman mathematics class at my high school to be taught how to use a slide rule. This brilliant device had been the standard tool for mathematical computation for 350 years (since its invention in 1630 or thereabouts). However, by 1974 – just two years after the introduction of the first pocket calculator with slide-rule-like mathematical functions (the HP-35) – pocket calculators could perform more functions, with higher accuracy, less training, and fewer errors (such as mis-placing the decimal point). While the cost of a pocket calculator was still about the same as a good slide rule in 1974, the price of calculators had already fallen by half in two years, and was clearly going to continue falling. Pocket calculators made calculating simpler, cheaper, and more powerful. Shift happened.
2. Punched Cards to Video Terminals
In 1978, I was in the last freshman computer programming class at my university to be taught how to create and use punched cards. The punched card was the de facto standard of the computing industry for almost a century (since 1889) and the basis of IBM’s computing empire. However, by 1978 – just two years after the introduction video display terminals such as DEC’s VT52 and IBM's 3270 – video terminals were clearly out-competing punched cards. Video terminals made computing simpler, cheaper, and more powerful. Shift happened.
3. Geosynclines to Plate Tectonics
Also in 1978, I was in the last freshman geology class at my university to be taught about geosynclines as the fundamental paradigm of geology. By then, plate tectonics had become widely accepted as being a superior theory, but the school’s Intro to Geology textbook wasn’t updated to reflect this change until the following year. Plate tectonics provided a simpler model, in which fewer rules explained a larger number of phenomena more accurately, reducing the frequency of failed geological predictions (such as dry holes). Plate tectonics made geology simpler, cheaper, and more powerful. Shift happened.
4. Command Line & Text Mode to Graphical User Interfaces
When I started taking classes for a Computer Science degree in 1983, the dominant input paradigm was the command line, and the standard output paradigm was text mode. By the time I got my CS degree in 1988, the command line and text mode were being superseded by graphical user interfaces (such as the Mac & Windows user interfaces), which made computing more accessible to non-professionals, reduced training costs, and enabled powerful new applications like desktop publishing, digital photo editing, and Mathematica. Graphical user interfaces made computing simpler, cheaper, and more powerful. Shift happened.
Discussion
When a new paradigm delivers a desired outcome through means that are simpler, cheaper, and more powerful, then shift happens, even if the previous paradigm has been in place for centuries.
Conclusion
Once the Thummer and ThumMusic System are commercially available, they will make learning to play and understand music simpler, cheaper, and more powerful, establishing an important new paradigm for music-making.
Why? Because…Shift Happens.
1. Slide Rules to Pocket Calculators
In 1974, I was in the last freshman mathematics class at my high school to be taught how to use a slide rule. This brilliant device had been the standard tool for mathematical computation for 350 years (since its invention in 1630 or thereabouts). However, by 1974 – just two years after the introduction of the first pocket calculator with slide-rule-like mathematical functions (the HP-35) – pocket calculators could perform more functions, with higher accuracy, less training, and fewer errors (such as mis-placing the decimal point). While the cost of a pocket calculator was still about the same as a good slide rule in 1974, the price of calculators had already fallen by half in two years, and was clearly going to continue falling. Pocket calculators made calculating simpler, cheaper, and more powerful. Shift happened.
2. Punched Cards to Video Terminals
In 1978, I was in the last freshman computer programming class at my university to be taught how to create and use punched cards. The punched card was the de facto standard of the computing industry for almost a century (since 1889) and the basis of IBM’s computing empire. However, by 1978 – just two years after the introduction video display terminals such as DEC’s VT52 and IBM's 3270 – video terminals were clearly out-competing punched cards. Video terminals made computing simpler, cheaper, and more powerful. Shift happened.
3. Geosynclines to Plate Tectonics
Also in 1978, I was in the last freshman geology class at my university to be taught about geosynclines as the fundamental paradigm of geology. By then, plate tectonics had become widely accepted as being a superior theory, but the school’s Intro to Geology textbook wasn’t updated to reflect this change until the following year. Plate tectonics provided a simpler model, in which fewer rules explained a larger number of phenomena more accurately, reducing the frequency of failed geological predictions (such as dry holes). Plate tectonics made geology simpler, cheaper, and more powerful. Shift happened.
4. Command Line & Text Mode to Graphical User Interfaces
When I started taking classes for a Computer Science degree in 1983, the dominant input paradigm was the command line, and the standard output paradigm was text mode. By the time I got my CS degree in 1988, the command line and text mode were being superseded by graphical user interfaces (such as the Mac & Windows user interfaces), which made computing more accessible to non-professionals, reduced training costs, and enabled powerful new applications like desktop publishing, digital photo editing, and Mathematica. Graphical user interfaces made computing simpler, cheaper, and more powerful. Shift happened.
Discussion
When a new paradigm delivers a desired outcome through means that are simpler, cheaper, and more powerful, then shift happens, even if the previous paradigm has been in place for centuries.
Conclusion
Once the Thummer and ThumMusic System are commercially available, they will make learning to play and understand music simpler, cheaper, and more powerful, establishing an important new paradigm for music-making.
Why? Because…Shift Happens.