The Stuff that Memes are Made of is an (partially) ASB timeline made by Nathan1123, exploring a universe where all electronic technology (computers, software, communication, robotics, etc) are shifted to be exactly 80 years more advanced. The point of divergence is taken from Charles Babbage in the 1820s, but the real changes begins by inventing the computer in 1868, exactly 80 years before it was invented in 1948 in our world.
The most fascinating changes to history is creating an internet culture among the Greatest Generation, instead of the Millennial Generation as in OTL. However, many political and technological butterflies will also exist.
Point of Divergence[]
Babbage in 1850
Main Article: Babbage Machine (Stuff That Memes Are Made Of)
Charles Babbage (1792-1871) is perhaps the greatest pioneer in computer technology, if not one of the greatest polymaths of all time. Unfortunately, his diverse and visionary skills were ultimately his downfall. Universities, particularly the Analytical Society from the University of Cambridge, were hesitant to give him proper funding for his ideas, which far exceeded the technology of his day. Furthermore, Babbage's diversity of skills made him very eccentric and distracted, pushing simultaneously in economic and political fields whilst he was inventing a steam-powered computer.
In OTL, however, this almost changed overnight. Babbage was very close to stumbling across electromagnetic unification in 1824, years ahead of Faraday and Maxwell. In ATL, Babbage succeeds in this breakthrough, quickly securing his position as researcher at Cambridge. Without having to be distracted for money, Babbage would be able to focus more readily at completing his Differential Engine.
Although this won't invent the computer right away, it does lay groundwork much farther along technologically than our world. Furthermore, Babbage's work in electromagnetism could prove useful in making more electronic computers we are used to later on. Babbage was close friends with George Boole, the father of Boolean Algebra.
Changes to History[]
Technological[]
Main Article: History of Computers (Stuff That Memes Are Made Of)
The purpose of this timeline is ultimately to shift the whole history of computers forwards 80 years. Why 80? It is exactly one generational cycle. This way, each generation of computers is shifted to a very similar generation in the past: Millennials->Greatest, X->Lost, Homeland->Silent, etc. So instead of the Enigma Machine being a product of World War Two cryptology, in ATL it begins with a more advanced version of the Vigenere Cypher in the Austro-Prussian War. Ultimately, this results in the first Von Neumann computer being created in 1868, although the name of the architecture, like the rest of computational history, will be altered.
Further shift of computer history is also necessary. Computer languages and email services will be developed in the 1880s (instead of the 1960s), microprocessors will be developed in the 1890s (instead of the 1970s), and the personal computer will be invented in 1904 (instead of 1984). Each generation of advancement will be incorporated within the paradigm of the day, such as growing Microsoft out of the Edison company.
Many advancements of computers which are now only theoretically possible will happen in the past of ATL. Quantum computation will be developed in the 1940s (instead of 2020s). The Singularity, an event in which sentient AI is possible, would happen optimistically in 1948, which interestingly would make the world look very similar to how people in the 1950s conceived their future to be like. There would be no equivalent to Y2K, as UNIX time begins in 1890. However, the 2038-Year problem, an event in which 32-bit UNIX time overflows, would instead occur in 1958.
Cultural[]
As mentioned previously, the OTL Millennial Generation is substituted in computer history by the Greatest Generation, who witnesses the rise of the Internet in their adolescent years. The World Wide Web would first be established in 1911, just before the outbreak of World War One. The 1910s would be the equivalent to 1990s internet, with some of the earliest memes and social media sites but not much content. Google, or some variant, would be launched in 1918, transforming the internet to Web 2.0 by 1921. The 1920s therefore would be equivalent to 21st century internet, being a golden age of memes, trolls and general connectivity. For instance, YouTube would be launched in 1925, and celebrate its 10th anniversary in 1935.
Whereas most memes and internet culture OTL revolves around important events of the 21st century, those equivalents ATL will derive from events that unfolded 80 years ago. For example, "flame wars" involving ideologies would be sparked between the proponents of Fascism and Communism. Rising dictators like Hitler and Stalin will have their own reactions to the rise of the internet. Domestically, shows that were popular on radio or comics OTL will have new equivalents for an internet audience of their own generation.
Like OTL, many memes would reach back further in history, especially among fans of history on the internet. For example, instead of making memes of World War Two, people would make references to Napoleon, or the genocides committed by Belgium in the Congo.
Political[]
Arguably, the first major political changes caused by the internet OTL were the Arab Spring, in which many Middle Eastern nations revolted against dictators in the early 2010s. ATL, this would take place in the 1930s, and this time in the form of revolts against European Imperialism. However, Egypt at that time was already mostly independent from Britain, and so the Great Arab Mutiny would be directed against French and Italian North Africa. This ultimately results in creating the Federal Democratic Republic of North Africa, which further creates butterflies on the continent.
The first American election that was majorly affected by the Internet OTL was arguably the 2016 election, in which Donald Trump was elected. In ATL, Trump's counterpart in 1936 would be William Randolph Hearst, who is elected in 1936. Similar "alt-right" candidates would be elected in France and Britain, causing a very different history of World War Two. Advanced computers includes advancement of information-sharing, which would cause the war to be much longer and more brutal. The end result of these political butterflies is seen in the Cold War, which ATL is replaced by the Russo-American Conflict.