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I have to agree with the previous commenter, but in a more serious fashion. It's not just about the fun. A lot of modern technology is possible not because some
by erikb 10y ago
I have to agree with the previous commenter, but in a more serious fashion. It's not just about the fun. A lot of modern technology is possible not because someone did some directed research but because someone thought about if something could be done and how to achieve it. Sometimes it may even take generations before a small piece of knowledge suddenly finds an application, and then it can still lead to breakthroughs.
Certainly not all, but some people need to be able to do things without apparent meaning, including artists and (theoretical) scientists.
- marz0 10y agoOne simple example is the invention of styrofoam, which was accidentally created [1] when the inventor was looking to produce a flexible electrical insulator. [1] http://inventors.about.com/od/pstartinventions/a/styrofoam_2.htm http://inventors.about.com/od/pstartinventions/a/styrofoam_2...
- digi_owl 10y agoAnother, from physics, is the laser. It sat around for a decade or more before it was applied to telecom and such.