Posted on 05/15/2016 9:02:59 AM PDT by PROCON
Which was a more important innovation: indoor plumbing, jet air travel or mobile phones?
We’re in the golden age of innovation, an era in which digital technology is transforming the underpinnings of human existence. Or so a techno-optimist might argue.
We’re in a depressing era in which innovation has slowed and living standards are barely rising. That’s what some skeptical economists believe.
The truth is, this isn’t a debate that can be settled objectively. Which was a more important innovation: indoor plumbing, jet air travel or mobile phones? You could argue for any of them, and data can tell plenty of different stories depending on how you look at it. Productivity statistics or information on inflation-adjusted incomes is helpful, but can’t really tell you whether the advent of air-conditioning or the Internet did more to improve humanity’s quality of life.
(Excerpt) Read more at mobile.nytimes.com ...
The free time happened because of agriculture — while it eats up a lot of labor and a lot of time, there are long periods of waiting involved where there’s nothing to do. The food surpluses made — and continue to make — civilization possible.
The Allen Wrench (har har har...)
Agreed, but agriculture wasn’t the innovation as agriculture had been available for thousands of years. What enabled the ability to create food surplus? Was it technology, i.e. a plow, or was is the aggregate of manpower by a central controlling figure, i.e. a king, or something less specific that allowed for food surplus? What role did a non-anthropogenic global warming period play in the development of each civilization that allowed food surplus?
My vote is for the wheel.
“I’d vote AC electricity to the cities. Indoor plumbing, then move to the modern age.”
A solid choice. Actually, it’s impossible to select a single greatest invention as each is predicated by a previous. An example; some say the ability to control fire was the single greatest invention. Some say it was the invention of agriculture and the domestication of animals. Some say the creation of permanent dwelling sites such as villages. Some say the creation of tribal rules which led to laws. But, each of these were enabled by a previous. So, how does anyone choose a single greatest? Can’t be done.
Worse invention ever: socialism. No other invention has caused more misery, killed more people, or destroyed more nations.
There was also a number (in the 70s - early 80s) that would, after calling it and hanging up, would call you back.
I think it was for diagnostic purposes, but in middle school we were not interested in diagnostic purposes.
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