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I think the more interesting discussion (and where I hopped this was going) was that tools never die, they just evolve. For all of his examples he was able to

I think the more interesting discussion (and where I hopped this was going) was that tools never die, they just evolve. For all of his examples he was able to come up with some trivial example of some near-extinct culture in some very small part of the world using them. But for instance the chariot wheel EVOLVED into the automobile wheel, hammers evolved into jackhammers and hammerdrills (and just plain hammers), brass helmets into motorcycle helmets. I think finding a tool that is no longer used and has no "children" would be the truly interesting find. If a tool is used to serve a purpose and solve a problem, are there any categories of problems that we simply don't run into anymore? And for the people talking about parts for '87 chevy's and IDEs or dead software projects, I think you're taking his point far too literally.

derleth 16y ago
> I think finding a tool that is no longer used and has no "children" would be the truly interesting find. I'd look at tools used for gas lamps. Candles are still legitimately used for emergency purposes, but without a gas distribution network using gas lamps is pretty much impossible, given that it's no longer reasonable to keep gas fixtures around as long as electricity works reasonably reliably. Frankly, gas lamps are the worst of both worlds when compared to candles and electric lighting: They're reliant on complex infrastructure, even if you somehow have your own gas supply, and they're still based on the toxic and fire-hazard-prone technology of burning flammable things. When you factor in the risk of gas leaks, they're actually worse than candles.
- ars 16y ago
  There are plenty of gas streetlights burning today in modern American and European cities. They never turn them off since it's cheaper to let them burn than to have someone light them. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_lighting#Gas_street_lighting_today http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_lighting#Gas_street_lightin...
- ars 16y ago
  In Israel some Jews use gas lamps for lighting on the Sabbath because the electric grid is run by non-religious Jews in violation of the Sabbath, and they don't want to benefit from that. (Before you ask: There is no central gas distribution network in Israel because of the risk of war, so all houses have individual tanks.) The requirement to avoid the electric grid is disputed, and most religious Jews don't, but some do.

derleth 16y ago

> I think finding a tool that is no longer used and has no "children" would be the truly interesting find. I'd look at tools used for gas lamps. Candles are still legitimately used for emergency purposes, but without a gas distribution network using gas lamps is pretty much impossible, given that it's no longer reasonable to keep gas fixtures around as long as electricity works reasonably reliably. Frankly, gas lamps are the worst of both worlds when compared to candles and electric lighting: They're reliant on complex infrastructure, even if you somehow have your own gas supply, and they're still based on the toxic and fire-hazard-prone technology of burning flammable things. When you factor in the risk of gas leaks, they're actually worse than candles.

ars 16y ago
There are plenty of gas streetlights burning today in modern American and European cities. They never turn them off since it's cheaper to let them burn than to have someone light them. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_lighting#Gas_street_lighting_today http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_lighting#Gas_street_lightin...
ars 16y ago
In Israel some Jews use gas lamps for lighting on the Sabbath because the electric grid is run by non-religious Jews in violation of the Sabbath, and they don't want to benefit from that. (Before you ask: There is no central gas distribution network in Israel because of the risk of war, so all houses have individual tanks.) The requirement to avoid the electric grid is disputed, and most religious Jews don't, but some do.