Re: An ideal wristwatch


"Alex W." <ingilt@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:60ch1dF1prs97U1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

But that example simply demonstrates the old pattern that we will invent
(or discover, or develop) a resource, process or product and only then
dream up uses for it. Most people are unworried about our hydrocarbon
reserves because of their faith in a deus ex machina technology, unaware
that their belief that we have a specific need and will find a suitable
technological solution to address that problem reverses this historical
principle. This is cart-before-horse thinking.


This is not cart-before-horse. While all the uses of the digital computer
could not have been anticipated, it was developed because there was a
specific need - for ballistics tables in wartime and a very intense gov't
funded R&D effort devoted to it. One the technology existed, it found many
other uses.


Sometimes it happens the other way around and someone stumbles upon some
great invention that no one was even looking for, and sometimes, even though
there is great need there is no technological solution that can be found,
but usually supply follows demand .

If enough people work on this problem and there is enough financial
incentive, a solution will be found - it's not like we are seeking an
anti-gravity device . It may well be that the solution won't involve a
liquid fuel substitute at all - maybe the cars of the future will be
electric or hydrogen powered or something no one has even thought of yet,
but the solution WILL appear because so many people are working on it and
there is so much money in it . As I mentioned before, there are many
technologies that are ALMOST feasible today and all it would take to put
them over the top is for oil to be a few $/barrel higher than it is now. >



.

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