The digital apocalypse and Tom Hanks In addition to hope, major technological changes have always triggered fear and skepticism. When the first rail connections began operating in 1835, critics warned of the “devil's thing” and of brain disorders that would trigger the adventurous speeds of up to 60 km/h. Almost 200 years later, our society is once again facing drastic developments. In the next three to five years, as many technological changes could take place as in the entire 50 years before. Skeptics are already predicting the digital apocalypse.