February 24, 2023 MDG

The Intersection of Technology and Information Theory

How new interfaces change the way we interact with information and the world around us

Abstract: This paper explores the alignment of digital interfaces with our existing innate encoding and decoding of information.

The focus is on “front door” moments in technology, where new interfaces or technologies fundamentally change the way we interact with information and the world around us.

Top 10  “front door” moments in technology and information theory, along with a short description and the year the technology became broadly available:

  1. Web browsers (1993) – The development of the first web browsers, including Mosaic, provided users with a way to access and navigate the web.
  2. Search engines (1995) – The emergence of search engines, such as Yahoo and AltaVista, made it easier for users to find information on the web.
  3. Site maps (1998) – The development of site maps, which provided a visual representation of a website’s structure and content, made it easier for users to find what they were looking for.
  4. Social media (2003) – The emergence of social media, such as MySpace and LinkedIn, provided new ways for users to access and share information.
  5. GPS data (2009) – Foursquare’s use of GPS data to put a “doorway and face” on location information provided users with a new way to access and share information about their location.
  6. Mobile devices (2007) – The emergence of smartphones, such as the iPhone and Android, required the development of new and innovative interfaces that could accommodate smaller screens and limited processing power.
  7. Big data (2010s) – The emergence of big data and the development of tools and techniques for processing and analyzing large amounts of information provided new ways to access and process information.
  8. AI and machine learning (2010s) – The development of AI and machine learning has enabled new approaches to information retrieval and processing, with significant advances in recent years.
  9. Blockchain (2009) – The emergence of blockchain technology and its potential to create new and secure ways to exchange and verify information is an example of a new “front door” to information exchange.
  10. Text and voice to AI UI (2010s) – The development of natural language processing and speech recognition technologies has enabled new ways for users to interact with AI systems in a more intuitive and natural way, opening up new “front doors” for effective communication and collaboration.
 (c) Mark Ghuneim 202