If you’re not familiar with Arthur C Clarke’s ‘Three Laws‘, they’re well worth knowing…
- When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong.
- The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.
- Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic
It’s number 3 that I was reminded about today. Of all the modern gadgets and technology I use, probably the most magical thing to me is still buying a Kindle book from Amazon
As someone who has spent countless hours in bookstores, libraries and comic book shops it’s still very strange that I can go to Amazon.co.uk via a link from a recommendation, select 1-Click purchase, and the next time I happen to carry my Kindle anywhere near my router, that book will almost instantly appear on it, ready to read.
It’s a good reminder anytime I get jaded or cynical. And gives me a magic level to aspire to with my work…