The Devloution of Human Culture

Here is what’s odd: during these same 20 years, the appearance of the world (computers, TVs, telephones, and music players aside) has changed hardly at all, less than it did during any 20-year period for at least a century.

Aren't those the things that have mostly changed the world in the past 20 years? To me, it's like saying that the world's appearance (transportation, vehicles, airplanes, etc. aside) from 1880 to 1910 has hardly changed.

I don't really get what that means then. What's appearance supposed to be? Is he saying that creativity has been lacking? That there's little to no innovation in other areas that aren't electronics?