1. Spreadsheets and Technology Confluence Christopher Scaffidi

2. 1/9 When is technology like a river?

3. 2/9 Spreadsheets are a “consolidated technology.” “Many things have to come together in order for the technology to fully mature.” --Redwine/Riddle 85 (“RR”)

4. 3/9 RR0: Problem = budget optimization Stage 0:Concept Formalization “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 1961-1972

5. 4/9 RR1: Solution = hard-to-use techniques Stage 1:Development/Extens. “Clear Definition of Solution Approach Via a Seminal Paper or a Demonstration System” --RR Trigger:Optimization Algorithms Results:Descriptive Models Procedures/Techniques Analytical Models Validation:Examples, Evaluation, Analysis 1961-1972 Optimization Algorithms 1964-1970’s

6. 5/9 RR2: VisiCalc and the turn of the tide Stage 2:Enhance/Explore (int) “Usable Capabilities Become Available” --RR Trigger:Microcomputers Results:Tool Validation:Experience 1961-1972 Optimization Algorithms 1964-1970’s 1978-1979 Microcomputers

7. 6/9 RR3: Enhancement thru the joining of technologies Stage 3:Enhance/Explore (ext) “Shift to Usage Outside of Development Group” --RR Trigger:Fast, cheap hardware Results:Tool Validation:Examples, Experience, Evaluation 1961-1972 Optimization Algorithms 1964-1970’s 1978-1979 1982-1990’s Mouse Charting GUI + VGA Graphics Printers Graphics Acc. Animation OO Microcomputers

8. 7/9 RR4: 1-2-3 & Excel flood the marketplace Stage 4:Popularization “Substantial Evidence of Value and Applicability” --RR Trigger: Smell of profit in the water Results:Tool Validation:Experience 1961-1972 Optimization Algorithms 1964-1970’s 1978-1979 1982-1990’s Mouse Charting GUI + VGA Graphics Printers Graphics Acc. Animation OO Microcomputers

9. 8/9 RR0: End User Software Engineering Stage 0:Concept Formulation “Appearance of a Key Idea Underlying the Technology or a Clear Articulation of the Problem” --RR Trigger:Existence of a huge base of worksheet creators Results:Descriptive Models Validation:Examples, Experiments 1961-1972 Optimization Algorithms 1964-1970’s 1978-1979 1982-1990’s Mouse Charting GUI + VGA Graphics Printers Graphics Acc. Animation OO 1997-2000’s Microcomputers

10. 9/9 DSS and BI: Other divergences off the main flow 1961-1972 Optimization Algorithms 1964-1970’s 1978-1979 1982-1990’s Mouse Charting GUI + VGA Graphics Printers Graphics Acc. Animation OO 1997-2000’s Business Intelligence (BI) Decision Support Systems (DSS) Microcomputers

11. 10/9 Conclusion: The course of spreadsheet maturation depended on the confluence of other technologies. “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 Conceptualization Cheap Horsepower Peripheral Software + Hardware

12. 11/9 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