The Speed of Change

Posted by Jim Connolly 2 June, 2010 (0) Comment

If we assume that all of the knowledge that mankind had accumulated by the year 1 AD equaled 1 unit of information, how long does it take to double that knowledge?  Keep in mind, this original 1 unit of knowledge includes Aristotle, Plato, Socrates, Homer, etc.

According to Dr. Daniel Johnston, a Clinical Psychologist practicing in Macon, Georgia:

  • The original 1 unit of knowledge took 1500 years to double
  • The next doubling (2 units to 4 units) took only 250 years (1750 AD)
  • The next doubling took 150 years (1900 AD)
  • The doubling speed has now reached 1 - 2 years

We wonder why we have difficulty keeping up.

Categories : Organizational Change Tags : ,