Spreadsheets and Technology Confluence
Christopher Scaffidi
When is technology like a river?
1/9
Spreadsheets are a “consolidated technology.”
“Many things have to
come together
in order for the technology
to fully mature.”
--Redwine/Riddle 85 (“RR”)
2/9
RR0: Problem = budget optimization
Stage 0: Concept Formalization
1961-1972
“Appearance of a Key Idea Underlying
the Technology or a Clear Articulation
of the Problem” --RR
Trigger:
Management Models
Results:
Descriptive Models
Validation: Persuasion,
Examples
3/9
RR1: Solution = hard-to-use techniques
Optimization
Algorithms
Stage 1: Development/Extens.
“Clear Definition of Solution Approach
Via a Seminal Paper or a
Demonstration System” --RR
1961-1972
1964-1970’s
Trigger:
Optimization Algorithms
Results:
Descriptive Models
Procedures/Techniques
Analytical Models
Validation: Examples,
Evaluation,
Analysis
4/9
RR2: VisiCalc and the turn of the tide
Optimization
Algorithms
Microcomputers
Stage 2: Enhance/Explore (int)
“Usable Capabilities Become
Available” --RR
1961-1972
1964-1970’s
Trigger:
Microcomputers
Results:
Tool
Validation: Experience
1978-1979
5/9
RR3: Enhancement thru the joining of technologies
Optimization
Algorithms
Microcomputers
Stage 3: Enhance/Explore (ext)
“Shift to Usage Outside of
Development Group” --RR
1961-1972
1964-1970’s
1978-1979
Mouse
Trigger:
Fast, cheap hardware
Results:
Tool
Validation: Examples,
Experience,
Evaluation
1982-1990’s
Charting
GUI + VGA
Graphics
Printers
Graphics Acc.
Animation
OO
6/9
RR4: 1-2-3 & Excel flood the marketplace
Optimization
Algorithms
Microcomputers
Stage 4: Popularization
“Substantial Evidence of Value and
Applicability” --RR
1961-1972
1964-1970’s
Trigger:
Smell of profit in the water
Results:
Tool
Validation: Experience
1978-1979
Mouse
1982-1990’s
Charting
GUI + VGA
Graphics
Printers
Graphics Acc.
Animation
OO
7/9
RR0: End User Software Engineering
Optimization
Algorithms
Microcomputers
Stage 0: Concept Formulation
“Appearance of a Key Idea Underlying
the Technology or a Clear Articulation
of the Problem” --RR
1961-1972
Trigger:
Existence of a huge base
of worksheet creators
Results:
Descriptive Models
1964-1970’s
1978-1979
Mouse
Validation: Examples,
Experiments
1982-1990’s
Charting
GUI + VGA
Graphics
Printers
Graphics Acc.
Animation
OO
1997-2000’s
8/9
DSS and BI: Other divergences off the main flow
Optimization
Algorithms
Microcomputers
1961-1972
1964-1970’s
Decision Support Systems (DSS)
1978-1979
Mouse
1982-1990’s
Charting
GUI + VGA
Graphics
Business Intelligence (BI)
Printers
Graphics Acc.
Animation
OO
1997-2000’s
9/9
Conclusion: The course of spreadsheet maturation
depended on the confluence of other technologies.
Cheap Horsepower
Conceptualization
“The phasing seems rather the same as
for technology concepts but one must
realize that consolidated technology
must, of necessity, lag the maturation
of the technology on which it is based.”
--RR
Peripheral
Software +
Hardware
10/9
Where is your work headed?
“Five miles meandering with a mazy motion,
through wood and dale the sacred river ran.
Then reach'd the caverns measureless to man,
and sank in tumult to a lifeless ocean.”
--Coleridge 1816
11/9