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This topic has 11 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 5 March 2014 at 19:14 by Neil Wyatt.

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5 March 2014 at 09:54 #7070
jason udall
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@jasonudall57142
Just about somes it up
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5 March 2014 at 09:54 #146018
jason udall
Participant
@jasonudall57142
Found in old Starret book
” Man is a tool-using animal. Weak in himself and of small stature, he stands on a basis of some half square foot, has to straddle out his legs less the very winds supplant him. Nevertheless, he can use tools, can devise tools; with these the granite mountain melts into light dust before him; seas are his smooth highway, winds and fire his unwearying steeds. Nowhere do you find him without tools. Without tools he is nothing, with tools he is all.”…Thomas Carlyle ( 1795-1881)

Edited By jason udall on 05/03/2014 09:55:21
5 March 2014 at 10:10 #146019
Ady1
Participant
@ady1
It's the technological advancements which have happened over the last 100 years which I find quite stunning

100 years ago we were basically good at metalwork and burned coal for power

Now what?

Medicine, flight (earthly AND space), computers, Internet, electronics, solar, new materials

amazing

Edited By Ady1 on 05/03/2014 10:11:48
5 March 2014 at 10:17 #146021
mick
Participant
@mick65121
Every step you take is the unavoidable consequence of the proceeding one and there beckons more, clearly total annihilation.

Albert Einstein.

Not trying to be clever, just another way of looking at the use of tools. Mick (still breathing)
5 March 2014 at 10:25 #146022
Russ B
Participant
@russb
truly stunning, imagine where the next 100 years will take us, and to add that, without communication we're nothing, 100 years without communication would potentially render us savage animals again – back to square one – sticks and stones?!

That said, could the world wide web, which is unquestionably the largest source of information (and tripe,,,) be the greatest tool of the century?
5 March 2014 at 10:54 #146024
Ady1
Participant
@ady1
That said, could the world wide web, which is unquestionably the largest source of information (and tripe,,,) be the greatest tool of the century?

Sightings of UFOs have apparently dropped to zero since the Internet went mainstream in 1998

All the kooks and fruitloops are now beavering away on the net

500 channels of junk TV 24/7 hasn't done us much good either IMO

Edited By Ady1 on 05/03/2014 10:56:44
5 March 2014 at 10:54 #146025
Oompa Lumpa
Participant
@oompalumpa34302
Anyone who is not in awe of the advances of the last three hundred years or so clearly have no understanding of what it is all about. Whatever IT is.

Personally, I try to pause and reflect. The Internet has changed my life in ways I still do not fully comprehend.

The best tool I bought, ever, are my glasses.

graham.
5 March 2014 at 13:14 #146030
Bazyle
Participant
@bazyle
"Without tools he is nothing"

Some people can do pretty well with their voice alone, not even needing instruments.
5 March 2014 at 13:16 #146031
Bazyle
Participant
@bazyle
"Without tools he is nothing"

Some people can do pretty well with their voice alone, not even needing instruments.
5 March 2014 at 13:19 #146032
John Stevenson 1
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@johnstevenson1
Also helps if there is an echo
5 March 2014 at 13:31 #146033
MICHAEL WILLIAMS
Participant
@michaelwilliams41215
Hi Jason ,

(1) The greatest developments of mankind happened millions of years ago when man became :

Sentient .

Inquisitive .

Clever .

Able to speak and thus communicate .

Able to record and send information .

Able to record and send information in a large scale and structured way .

Able to use collective data .

After that all technological developments – however wonderful -became largely inevitable .

(2) Knowledge seems to increases with time . Everybody assumes that this is a stable process . There is actually no reason why it should be stable at all .

Various theories suggest that knowledge base may in time become :

Infinitely large but so dispersed as to be useless .

So infinately large and complex as to be incomprehensible and unmanageable .

So full of incorrect and contradictory information that it becomes impossible to extract reliable information at all .

(3) The next big technical breakthrough will be about getting vast quantities of safe low cost energy . With this energy available many present day problems could be dealt with in ways not yet imagined .

Regards ,

Michael Williams .

Edited By MICHAEL WILLIAMS on 05/03/2014 13:33:50
5 March 2014 at 19:14 #146072
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
For an entertaining diversion related to this subject, try and track down Last and First Men, by Olaf Stapledon. A classic of early 20th Century science fiction.

Neil
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