![theatlantic:
The 100-Year March of Technology in 1 Graph
This graph below from Visual Economics, which shows the adoption rate of new technologies across the century, is one of my new favorites … Click it. Print it. Take your time with it. That’s a lot of linear data. One way to parse it is to ignore everything at the top and trace your eye along the 10% line:
In 1900, <10% of families owned a stove, or had access to electricity or phones
In 1915, <10% of families owned a car
In 1930, <10% of families owned a refrigerator or clothes washer
In 1945, <10% of families owned a clothes dryer or air-conditioning
In 1960, <10% of families owned a dishwasher or color TV
In 1975, <10% of families owned a microwave
In 1990, <10% of families had a cell phone or access to the Internet
Today, at least 90% of the country has a stove, electricity, car, fridge, clothes washer, air-conditioning, color TV, microwave, and cell phone. They make our lives better. They might even make us happier. But they are not enough.
Read more. [Image: Visual Economics]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m27w1jaQKQ1qcokc4o1_500.png)
The 100-Year March of Technology in 1 Graph
This graph below from Visual Economics, which shows the adoption rate of new technologies across the century, is one of my new favorites … Click it. Print it. Take your time with it. That’s a lot of linear data. One way to parse it is to ignore everything at the top and trace your eye along the 10% line:
- In 1900, <10% of families owned a stove, or had access to electricity or phones
- In 1915, <10% of families owned a car
- In 1930, <10% of families owned a refrigerator or clothes washer
- In 1945, <10% of families owned a clothes dryer or air-conditioning
- In 1960, <10% of families owned a dishwasher or color TV
- In 1975, <10% of families owned a microwave
- In 1990, <10% of families had a cell phone or access to the Internet
Today, at least 90% of the country has a stove, electricity, car, fridge, clothes washer, air-conditioning, color TV, microwave, and cell phone. They make our lives better. They might even make us happier. But they are not enough.
Read more. [Image: Visual Economics]
Evolution
via Kurt White
These numbers are far from shocking. (And that is sad).
How Often Were NFL Players Mentioned On Sports Center?
(via ilovecharts)
The worldwide distribution of heavy metal.
(via Kyle Van Blerk)
Probably very different than the worldwide distribution of heavy metals.
(via jasencomstock)
