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Has there ever been a time in history when a technology was so ubiquitous with so few people knowing how it actually works? Cars, television, plumbing all come
by kbrwn 7y ago
Has there ever been a time in history when a technology was so ubiquitous with so few people knowing how it actually works?
Cars, television, plumbing all come to mind
- huntermeyer 7y ago`SELECT * FROM technologies;` Internet, radio, electricity, solar panels, lawn mowers...
- dsfyu404ed 7y agoElectricity and all the things we use it for is and was
- cryptoz 7y agoI think about this a lot, and how it happens in the Foundation novels. A whole galaxy-wide civilization with FTL spaceships and everything - but where nobody knows how anything works. The story vaguely resembles The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, which is also frequently discussed as an analogue for current times.
- nkrisc 7y agoFor the average person: light bulbs, air conditioners, refrigerators, microwaves, radios, etc., etc.
- b_tterc_p 7y agoPerhaps but I think there’s a difference. I don’t know how refrigerators work, but I can guess and within a few guesses I’ll probably get close. I don’t know if everyone can guess how comp tech works. I’ve heard comments about how hard it must be to code how software works. Or to understand that so much can happen behind the scenes
- nkrisc 7y agoI think most people probably can't guess how a refrigerator works. Maybe if they remember high school physics, but I wouldn't put money on it. Maybe I'm just pessimistic but I think you're overestimating the understanding of science the average person has.