Humans keep experimenting keep moving away from practice in favor of another supposedly better practice, but keep coming back to the same conclusion...
Instances of this (As I am related to computer world, I will mostly have examples more in my domain)...
1. Pesticides and fertilizers
Started with natural fertilizers. Earlier (at least in India) cow dung, earthworms and decomposed leaves were used as fertilizers. Neem was used as a natural pesticide. Then came the great (supposed) green revolution which - through the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and modified seeds started giving more output. It took a few years to realize that this was making both the soil less fertile, more toxic and also harmful to humans in the long run.
We are returning back to natuaral way with a new name - Organic farming...
The increasing demand for organic food proves this point.
2. Medicines
Started with herbs - Auyrveda, Unani and know by similar names in different countries. Allopathy came in for fast relief. Again it took a long time to realize the side effects. Besides Allopathy ignores the most important medicinal rule - it bombards the liver which is supposed to remove toxins and keep the body clean. The other traditional natuaral medicines consider liver as one of the most imporant organs and important medicines protect the liver first.
The prescription of antacids with normal medicines and the blooming ayurveda industry in the western world supports this.
There was also constant switch in acceptance to practices like should water be put on burn wounds (Long back yes put water on wounds, medivial - no dont put water and now again put water on burn wounds) and also the orientation of cuts made during
delivery operation (horizontal, verticle...).
3. Computer topology
Earlier, we just had dumb clients and a powerful server (more because we could not afford strong processors at home). Later came intelligent PCs which had powerful computing capabilities. The trend stayed for a few years and now we are again going back to the old ways. Keywords like cloud are IN. We are moving back and trying to store everything on the huge server. Entry into cloud by Microsoft and Apple is just the begning of the change. Google chrome OS might be the first to take us back to the age of dumb computers.
3.Computer Database
Started with simple storage in flat files. Some one introduced RDBMS and everything changed. When I got to learn RDBMS, I got to know the importance of null. Come facebook and orkut, we moved to non relational database. Concepts like no downtime and speed started taking precendence over advantages provided by relational database. Time is such that wherever I see a reference about database to be used for cloud, I see a strong argument against use of null.
I am sometimes made to think that money plays an important role in this change. Sometimes, inventors will try to convince and push the change even if it is not a reality. For example BT Brinjal was being pushed in India even though we were surplous in foods only because the inventors have put moer money in this.
Also, not sure if cloud computing is eing pushed to make money.
Whatever be the driving factor, we keep coming back to the same point.
