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Are you kidding? I freaking love this invention. I just don't think it's evidence for some kind of civilizational decline.

• FrustratedMonky 3y ago
  "civilizational decline" OH. Didn't realize that is how you took it. That was not my intent. What I really meant, is the old style 'mechanical controls' do seem very inventive compared to today, because todays world is so much 'electronic controls'. Some of these solutions from 100+ years ago, seem revolutionary now, because we have forgotten that 'method' of solutions. I am not sure current engineers could come up with some of the same "old-fashioned" solutions that worked 100 years ago. Maybe because we are so advanced now, that it is almost like "that knowledge is lost"? Could go on, it is a worry I do have about actual collapse. Lets say we lost power grid or supply chain disruption. It would be huge task for current engineers to figure out how to re-build things again, with old technology.
  • phyzome 3y ago
    Ah, I see what you're saying. I'm... not actually sure, though. There's a huge amount of recorded work to draw from, and just a larger number of people working on things. It might be that we're actually better off in our collective ability to develop mechanical solutions even if the median talent in it among engineers is lower.