The tech world moves at lightning speed; things that would have felt impossible mere years ago, like the seamless integration of AI into nearly every platform, are now our simple reality. With so much innovation, it may feel as if techniques and tools become obsolete within days. Still, many elements of prior technological eras remain a critical element of our modern infrastructure, from ideals around project use to the architecture behind social networks. Today, we will explore some of the traditional tech that has laid the foundation for the many technological splendors we enjoy today – and that continue to allow for innovation.
Open Source Is an Internet Staple
One of the oldest and most integral elements of the internet is actually not a technology at all, but a principle. Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) began as a movement in the 1980s after companies began to lock down their codes, reversing decades of free collaboration between software engineers. One of the most significant of these was the GNU Project, which was composed entirely of free software. These were then licensed to enshrine the freedom to use, study, modify, and redistribute the software, leveraging the legal system to prevent later privatization and commodification.
These iconoclasts recognized that innovation, rather than mere profit, should be the driving force behind the internet, and their dedication to open dialogue has helped to create some of the most significant products of our time, such as Linux. Open source can be found in all corners of the tech scene, such as open source API management, and helps to foster creativity as coders transform one another’s works into even greater marvels. In fact, many of the world’s largest tech companies, including Google, have open-source repositories to help enable the next big thing in tech.
File Management Remains Key
Document management existed far before the internet, stretching back to ancient libraries and cuneiform accounting systems. While the world may have inched away from the Dewey Decimal system, this may not necessarily be to our benefit; a chaotic server can reduce productivity and lead to communication issues between employees.
Professionally organized file management allows employees to easily find what they need, and it also allows for simpler indexing, ensuring that nothing is ever lost in the shuffle. This is especially important thanks to the sad fact of the internet: it is not actually forever.
Thousands of terabytes of data are lost worldwide per year due to power outages, data breaches, and even natural disasters, which can make it difficult for a business to get back up and running after a serious data loss. With a file management system, it’s easier to recognize what may be lost and restore functionality, reducing the financial impact and preventing further disruptions to business.
Decentralization Makes for More Robust Conversations
On a more abstract note, it is clear that centralizing platforms or software can have nasty consequences for free speech. Blacklisting, shadowbanning, and banning users for sharing dissenting opinions have become of serious concern for free speech advocates using more modern social network platforms like Facebook or X, formerly known as Twitter, as it can easily be rallied on behalf of oppression.
As extensive testing of all the Usenet providers has proven for years, the solution to this is decentralization. Usenet, the original social media network, is composed of Usenet providers that host articles on their servers and allow users to access them for a small fee per month.
These providers do not keep records of what users download, nor do they censor an individual user’s activities. There is no central team of software engineers whose role is to monitor articles and assess whether they match any particular ideology, nor is there censorship of particular terms as there might be in other social media networks.
This freedom allows users to engage in spirited discussions with others on various topics. Some of the most insightful conversations have sprung forth amongst the Big 8 Newsgroups, exploring everything from ancient languages to modern politics.
Conclusion
It’s an old adage for a good reason: if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it. Technological advancement has heated up at a near-impossible clip in the last few years, but this does not mean that traditional tech isn’t valuable. Whether it’s a simple idea that open dialogue creates innovation or the physical infrastructure surrounding decentralization, older eras still provide invaluable options for those seeking to create a stable project that will last years into the future. Open source options, file management, and decentralization are all critical pieces of making the next big thing in tech.
