Now what did he mean by that?

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Because of the web we no longer need programs? That doesn't seem to make sense, or at least there doesn't seem to be any logical, or necessary, connection between the two. What's more, with the availability of the web we're able to download programs whenever we wish. So what's the point here?

For better or for worse, it's my guess that a certain set percentage of our computer use is devoted to tinkering. Some people can tinker with a programming language, though for most of us that's a bit beyond us. Others fulfill their tinkering urge by tweaking their systems by adding various accessories. Still others have favorite games which they'll waste a few hours playing. I still remember a time when people were continually on the lookout for new (and usually not particularly useful) fonts. In short, in one way or another, almost all of us tinker. The productive computer user isn't someone who doesn't do this, but simply someone who has learned to limit this continual playing around.

In this light a claim that the existence of the web decreases our obsessive need for new programs makes more sense. When we allow ourselves to "play around" on the web we satisfy our tinkering needs in that way, and don't feel as pressing a need for downloading more and more unneeded programs.

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Go to: Putting the web to work, or
Go to: Saving a digital copy, or
Go to: Designing a work-oriented environment, or
Go to: Tools I've known and loved ... and often abandoned.