4 ms·

There are drop-in replacements for aviation, too, in the form of biofuels. Nonetheless, the modern industrialized economy was built on the back of shipping tha

There are drop-in replacements for aviation, too, in the form of biofuels. Nonetheless, the modern industrialized economy was built on the back of shipping that was only initially possible via petroleum fuels.

Retric 6y ago
Before oil we had coal ships, coal trains, coal steam shovels, coal tractors, etc and even electric trolley from both hydroelectric and coal power plants. Before electricity we had air pressure tools, and before that rotating shaft power from water wheels. I bring that up because IMO people overestimate how much and how quickly things have changed.
- BlueTemplar 6y ago
  And sail ships, still plentiful in the early years of the 20th century.
- beerandt 6y ago
  The tech isn't as important to the economy as much as the ability to scale, given current (or historic) technological costs. Transistors theory and gate logic haven't fundamentally changed in decades, but would you say computing hasn't quickly changed? Alternatively, we can bombard lead with protons to make gold, or generate net energy via fusion reactions, but alchemy nor fusion are currently economically impactful on the global market, except maybe as a line item for research. People underestimate the importance of efficiency and economics when looking at things in a purely technological perspective.
  - Retric 6y ago
    Yeager broke the sound barrier in 1947 meanwhile Palmer the last bulk cargo sailing ship was profitable at the time and only sunk in 1957. That’s the difference between technology and infrastructure. The world was largely built on older technology, you still see 3.5 inch floppies all over the manufacturering sector. So sure modern CPU’s are fast and cheap, but they changed the world much less than you might think. Today’s wealth was mostly built on yesterday’s technology and infrastructure.

4 ms·

There are drop-in replacements for aviation, too, in the form of biofuels. Nonetheless, the modern industrialized economy was built on the back of shipping tha

by i_am_proteus 6y ago

Retric 6y ago
Before oil we had coal ships, coal trains, coal steam shovels, coal tractors, etc and even electric trolley from both hydroelectric and coal power plants. Before electricity we had air pressure tools, and before that rotating shaft power from water wheels. I bring that up because IMO people overestimate how much and how quickly things have changed.
- BlueTemplar 6y ago
  And sail ships, still plentiful in the early years of the 20th century.
- beerandt 6y ago
  The tech isn't as important to the economy as much as the ability to scale, given current (or historic) technological costs. Transistors theory and gate logic haven't fundamentally changed in decades, but would you say computing hasn't quickly changed? Alternatively, we can bombard lead with protons to make gold, or generate net energy via fusion reactions, but alchemy nor fusion are currently economically impactful on the global market, except maybe as a line item for research. People underestimate the importance of efficiency and economics when looking at things in a purely technological perspective.
  - Retric 6y ago
    Yeager broke the sound barrier in 1947 meanwhile Palmer the last bulk cargo sailing ship was profitable at the time and only sunk in 1957. That’s the difference between technology and infrastructure. The world was largely built on older technology, you still see 3.5 inch floppies all over the manufacturering sector. So sure modern CPU’s are fast and cheap, but they changed the world much less than you might think. Today’s wealth was mostly built on yesterday’s technology and infrastructure.