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>> It's not inventing the transistor or the integrated circuit. Integrated circuit on its own isn't doing anything unless used for something. Better chips ena

>> It's not inventing the transistor or the integrated circuit. Integrated circuit on its own isn't doing anything unless used for something. Better chips enable more use-cases, more electronics etc etc. Databases in similar way are enabling more applications for users. None of the apps or services we reliably use everyday at the scale (e.g. Google Search, Online shopping, Messaging) would not exist without solid storage software.

ForHackernews 2mo ago
> Integrated circuit on its own isn't doing anything unless used for something YES! YES EXACTLY! That's part of what makes things like ICs "deep tech" - they are transformative innovations that have no immediate application so they need government or a very well-funded far-thinking private org (e.g. Bell Labs) to bring them into being. They are not like making a new, better database. You have just reiterated my point very concisely, so thank you.
- truncate 2mo ago
  I don't think I did reiterate your point. You were saying unlike ICs, databases -- "But it's not creating something new that has never existed before". The point I was making was like newer/better ICs pave way for new electronics/use-cases; so do better databases/storage software pave way for more new applications that wouldn't have existed before.
  - ForHackernews 2mo ago
    Exactly: Making new/better ICs is not "deep tech" research. Creating the first IC, creating the concept of an integrated circuit is deep tech research.
    - truncate 2mo ago
      I guess I get what you are saying. Creating the first of its kind is "deep tech". I really don't care about the definition or semantics here personally. I think creating first one is great, but then depending what it is creating 10th generation can also be quite a breakthrough. First IC had like 10 transistors, modern ones do billions and getting there probably require way more work, ideas and research than the original IC did. Things just don't improve in silos.

ForHackernews 2mo ago

> Integrated circuit on its own isn't doing anything unless used for something YES! YES EXACTLY! That's part of what makes things like ICs "deep tech" - they are transformative innovations that have no immediate application so they need government or a very well-funded far-thinking private org (e.g. Bell Labs) to bring them into being. They are not like making a new, better database. You have just reiterated my point very concisely, so thank you.

truncate 2mo ago
I don't think I did reiterate your point. You were saying unlike ICs, databases -- "But it's not creating something new that has never existed before". The point I was making was like newer/better ICs pave way for new electronics/use-cases; so do better databases/storage software pave way for more new applications that wouldn't have existed before.
- ForHackernews 2mo ago
  Exactly: Making new/better ICs is not "deep tech" research. Creating the first IC, creating the concept of an integrated circuit is deep tech research.
  - truncate 2mo ago
    I guess I get what you are saying. Creating the first of its kind is "deep tech". I really don't care about the definition or semantics here personally. I think creating first one is great, but then depending what it is creating 10th generation can also be quite a breakthrough. First IC had like 10 transistors, modern ones do billions and getting there probably require way more work, ideas and research than the original IC did. Things just don't improve in silos.