--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In 20 or 30 years, you'll be able to hold…" description: "\"In 20 or 30 years, you'll be able to hold in your hand as much computing knowledge as exists now in the whole city, or even the whole world.\" — Douglas..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/douglas-engelbart-39997_computing_in-20-or-30-years-you-ll-be-able-to-hold_2708768.jpg" --- # In 20 or 30 years, you'll be able to hold in your hand as… ![“In 20 or 30 years, you'll be able to hold in your hand as much computing knowledge as exists now in the whole city, or even the whole world.” quote by Douglas Engelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/douglas-engelbart-39997_computing_in-20-or-30-years-you-ll-be-able-to-hold_2708768.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/douglas-engelbart-39997_computing_in-20-or-30-years-you-ll-be-able-to-hold_2708768.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/douglas-engelbart-39997_computing_in-20-or-30-years-you-ll-be-able-to-hold_2708768.jpg) > “In 20 or 30 years, you'll be able to hold in your hand as much computing knowledge as exists now in the whole city, or even the whole world.” [Douglas Engelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-engelbart/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Predicts future devices will hold massive knowledge, compressing global information into handheld form. **In simple terms:** Future tech will store huge data in small devices. Key Takeaway Embrace digital miniaturization. Themes technology future knowledge Mood hopeful speculative Type technological philosophical When to use this quote - education - research - personal devices - data management Key Concepts information density human-computer interaction Questions to Reflect On - What are the implications of data concentration? - How will privacy be protected? A Different Perspective Assumes equitable access to such technology. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Computing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computing/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Whole world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole-world/) ## Related quotes > [The digital revolution is far more significant than the invention of writing or even of printing.”“The better we get at getting better, the faster…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-engelbart/the-digital-revolution-is-far-more-significant-than-the-invention-of/) [Douglas Engelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-engelbart/) > [No one has a monopoly on knowledge the way that, say, IBM had in the 1960s in computing, or that Bell Labs had through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-chesbrough/no-one-has-a-monopoly-on-knowledge-the-way-that-say-ibm-had-in-the/) Henry Chesbrough > [Knowledge exists in two forms - lifeless, stored in books, and alive, in the consciousness of men. The second form of existence is after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/knowledge-exists-in-two-forms-lifeless-stored-in-books-and-alive-in/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/true-knowledge-exists-in-knowing-that-you-know-nothing/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [Knowledge exists potentially in the human soul like the seed in the soil; by learning the potential becomes actual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/knowledge-exists-potentially-in-the-human-soul-like-the-seed-in-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I believe we inherit a great river of knowledge, a flow of patterns coming from many sources. The information that comes from deep in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-believe-we-inherit-a-great-river-of-knowledge-a-flow-of-patterns/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [What accumulated knowledge exists in low grade societies is at least put into practice; it is transmuted into character; it exists with the depth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/what-accumulated-knowledge-exists-in-low-grade-societies-is-at-least/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [Knowledge exists to be imparted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/knowledge-exists-to-be-imparted/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“Knowledge exists, and good will exists; but both remain impotent until they possess the proper organs for making themselves heard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/knowledge-exists-and-good-will-exists-but-both-remain-impotent-until/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing. And in knowing that you know nothing, that makes you the smartest of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/true-knowledge-exists-in-knowing-that-you-know-nothing-and-in-knowing/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [Knowledge exists in minds, not in books. Before what has been found can be used by practitioners, someone must organize it, integrate it, extract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/knowledge-exists-in-minds-not-in-books-before-what-has-been-found-can/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) > [The object of knowledge is what exists and its function to know about reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-object-of-knowledge-is-what-exists-and-its-function-to-know-about/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Knowledge is nothing else than reflection or mirroring. Knowledge exists in itself only if this reflection or mirroring does and by no other way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sorin-cerin/knowledge-is-nothing-else-than-reflection-or-mirroring-knowledge/) [Sorin Cerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sorin-cerin/) > [“There is no new knowledge, it already exists in the universe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/there-is-no-new-knowledge-it-already-exists-in-the-universe/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) > [Whatever in creation exists without my knowledge exists without my consent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/whatever-in-creation-exists-without-my-knowledge-exists-without-my/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) ## More by Douglas Engelbart > [The key thing about all the world's big problems is that they have to be dealt with collectively. If we don't get collectively smarter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-engelbart/the-key-thing-about-all-the-world-s-big-problems-is-that-they-have-to/) [Douglas Engelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-engelbart/) > [The better we get at getting better, the faster we will get better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-engelbart/the-better-we-get-at-getting-better-the-faster-we-will-get-better/) [Douglas Engelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-engelbart/) > [The digital revolution is far more significant than the invention of writing or even of printing.”“The better we get at getting better, the faster…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-engelbart/the-digital-revolution-is-far-more-significant-than-the-invention-of/) [Douglas Engelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-engelbart/) > [The digital revolution is far more significant than the invention of writing or even of printing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-engelbart/the-digital-revolution-is-far-more-significant-than-the-invention-of-2/) [Douglas Engelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-engelbart/) > [It would be wonderful if I can inspire others, who are struggling to realize their dreams, to say 'if this country kid could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-engelbart/it-would-be-wonderful-if-i-can-inspire-others-who-are-struggling-to/) [Douglas Engelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-engelbart/) > [The rate at which a person can mature is directly proportional to the embarrassment he can tolerate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-engelbart/the-rate-at-which-a-person-can-mature-is-directly-proportional-to-the/) [Douglas Engelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-engelbart/) > [These days, the problem isn't how to innovate; it's how to get society to adopt the good ideas that already exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-engelbart/these-days-the-problem-isn-t-how-to-innovate-it-s-how-to-get-society/) [Douglas Engelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-engelbart/) > [Sometimes I apologize. It started that way and we never did change it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-engelbart/sometimes-i-apologize-it-started-that-way-and-we-never-did-change-it/) [Douglas Engelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-engelbart/) > [Today's environment is beginning to threaten today's organizations, finding them seriously deficient in their nervous system design... The degree of coordination, perception, rational adaptation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-engelbart/today-s-environment-is-beginning-to-threaten-today-s-organizations/) [Douglas Engelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-engelbart/) > [Boosting mankind's capability for coping with complex, urgent problems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-engelbart/boosting-mankind-s-capability-for-coping-with-complex-urgent-problems/) [Douglas Engelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-engelbart/) [Explore all 11 Douglas Engelbart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-engelbart/) ## More Computing quotes > [These are the men who, without virtue, labour, or hazard, are growing rich, as their country is impoverished; they rejoice, when obstinacy or ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/these-are-the-men-who-without-virtue-labour-or-hazard-are-growing/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Many jobs at Google require math, computing, and coding skills, so if your good grades truly reflect skills in those areas that you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/many-jobs-at-google-require-math-computing-and-coding-skills-so-if/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [The hope is that, in not too many years, human brains and computing machines will be coupled together very tightly, and that the resulting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-r-licklider/the-hope-is-that-in-not-too-many-years-human-brains-and-computing/) [J. C. R. Licklider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-r-licklider/) > [At every juncture, advanced tools have been the key to a new wave of applications, and each wave of applications has been key to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/at-every-juncture-advanced-tools-have-been-the-key-to-a-new-wave-of/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [The computing scientist's main challenge is not to get confused by the complexities of his own making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/the-computing-scientist-s-main-challenge-is-not-to-get-confused-by/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [I think it's fair to say that the age of traditional computing is dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-su/i-think-it-s-fair-to-say-that-the-age-of-traditional-computing-is-dead/) [Lisa Su](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-su/) > [Traditional computing is always going to be a part of AMD's business, but our technology can go further.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-su/traditional-computing-is-always-going-to-be-a-part-of-amd-s-business/) [Lisa Su](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-su/) > [Umoja ni nguvu,utengano ni udhaifu.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ngoge-nyabuto/umoja-ni-nguvu-utengano-ni-udhaifu/) KEVIN NGOGE NYABUTO > [If we don't figure out a way to have secure, connected healthcare, or connectivity and computing, we won't have that industry develop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mollenkopf/if-we-don-t-figure-out-a-way-to-have-secure-connected-healthcare-or/) [Steve Mollenkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mollenkopf/) > [Automobiles and the automotive industry are increasingly driven by data and computing. The saying 'What's under the hood' will increasingly refer to computing, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-krzanich/automobiles-and-the-automotive-industry-are-increasingly-driven-by/) [Brian Krzanich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-krzanich/) > [I think that it's extraordinarily important that we in computer science keep fun in computing. When it started out, it was an awful lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/i-think-that-it-s-extraordinarily-important-that-we-in-computer/) [Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/) > [Cultural perspective on gender diversity in computing,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenore-blum/cultural-perspective-on-gender-diversity-in-computing/) Lenore Blum > [Beauty is more important in computing than anywhere else in technology because software is so complicated. Beauty is the ultimate defense against complexity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gelernter/beauty-is-more-important-in-computing-than-anywhere-else-in/) [David Gelernter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gelernter/) > [The job of formal methods is to elucidate the assumptions upon which formal correctness depends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-hoare/the-job-of-formal-methods-is-to-elucidate-the-assumptions-upon-which/) [Tony Hoare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-hoare/) > [Computing shows up in many different ways. You have computing that you wear, computing that you carry. What you think of as the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dell/computing-shows-up-in-many-different-ways-you-have-computing-that-you/) [Michael Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dell/) [Browse all 237 Computing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In 20 or 30 years, you'll be able to hold in your hand as much computing knowledge as exists now in the whole city, or even the whole world.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Douglas Engelbart" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-engelbart/in-20-or-30-years-you-ll-be-able-to-hold-in-your-hand-as-much/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Computing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-engelbart/in-20-or-30-years-you-ll-be-able-to-hold-in-your-hand-as-much/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/douglas-engelbart-39997_computing_in-20-or-30-years-you-ll-be-able-to-hold_2708768.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/douglas-engelbart-39997_computing_in-20-or-30-years-you-ll-be-able-to-hold_2708768.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/douglas-engelbart-39997_computing_in-20-or-30-years-you-ll-be-able-to-hold_2708768.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In 20 or 30 years, you'll be able to hold in your hand as much computing knowledge as exists now in the…” — Douglas Engelbart", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Douglas Engelbart", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-engelbart/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In 20 or 30 years, you'll...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-engelbart/in-20-or-30-years-you-ll-be-able-to-hold-in-your-hand-as-much/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-engelbart/in-20-or-30-years-you-ll-be-able-to-hold-in-your-hand-as-much/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```