Description
Book Synopsis''Delightfully insightful and intensely readable [...] There is an energy and drama to Rory's writing which nonetheless leaves space for us, the reader, to make up our minds'' Stephen FryThe inside story of how tech became personal and pernicious, from the BBC''s technology correspondent.We live at a time when billions have access to unbelievably powerful technology. The most extraordinary tool that has been invented in the last century, the smartphone, is forcing radical changes in the way we live and work - and unlike previous technologies it is in the hands of just about everyone. Coupled with the rise of social media, this has ushered in a new era of deeply personal technology, where individuals now have the ability to work, create and communicate on their own terms, rather than wait for permission from giant corporations or governments. At least that is the optimistic view.This book takes readers on an entertaining ride through this turbulent era, as
Trade ReviewA refreshingly skeptical outsider’s view of Silicon Valley and its titans. * Wall Street Journal *
This delightfully insightful and intensely readable history combines the personal with the objective. From Jobs to Musk, from Facebook to fake news, from Snapchat to bitcoin by way of Raspberries, Blackberries and Apples there is an energy and drama to Rory’s writing which nonetheless leaves space for us, the reader, to make up our minds. -- Stephen Fry
Cellan-Jones
weaves together the broad story of the smartphone era with the personal element. By showing how technology has touched – and altered – him for good and bad he shows how it has affected us all. -- Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia
Who better to tell us this story than the arch technology storyteller himself? From the first smartphone to test and trace, Rory has seen it all and interviewed everyone. Putting it all together makes for a fascinating and beautifully written story of our times -- Wendy Hall, Regius Professor of Computer Science, University of Southampton
Mr Cellan-Jones…takes a refreshingly sceptical outsider’s view of Silicon Valley and its titans…The book shines when Mr Cellan-Jones combines these journalistic war stories with personal reflections. * Wall Street Journal *
Table of ContentsPrologue PART I: REVOLUTIONARY TIMES 1 'We're Going to Make Some History Here Today' 2 The Smartphone Revolution 3 Facepack: The Rise of Social Media 4 Raspberry Pi: Can Britain Build a Computer? 5 The End of the Human Race 6 Elon Musk and the Triumph of Tech
PART II: THINGS FALL APART 7 The Woes of the Web 8 Always On 9 Spinners, Hacks and Hype 10 Crypto Craziness
PART III: TECH IN A GLOBAL HEALTH CRISIS 11 The Pandemic Arrives 12 The App That Could Tame COVID 13 Fake News, 5G and the Virus
Epilogue Acknowledgements Index
