NationStates Jolt Archive

Every Friday on Today FM(any Irish radio station) there is a feature called Fix It Friday, where the listeners text and email the DJ with their niggling questions(things like what's the strongest beer in the world, what's the name of that song from that ad, why is the sky blue) and the DJ tries to answer them, with the help of his producers and some researchers. Today someone asked what had been invented in the 21st century. Some listeners suggested the flatscreen TV. It was rejected on the basis that it's just a TV. Some suggest the Segway, just a scooter. Some suggested digital picture frames, just stripped down computers. Sky+ boxes(similar to teevo, I believe), just a recording device. So, according to Ray D'Arcy(the DJ), it doesn't count as an invention it it performs the same function as existing technology or if it uses existing technology in a new way.

Under these standards I don't think humanity has invented anything in a very long time. The television, for example, is just a cathode ray tube, which in turn is just a Crookes tube, which is just a Geissler tube, which is just a glass tube with wires at either end. So there has been no invention that involves glass since the discovery of glass ca 3000 BC.

I plan on emailing the show at the weekend and informing them of this, thus gaining the satisfaction of being right. However, I'd rather not get contradicted on national radio. And this is where you come in.

Can you, the Freetime Lords of NSG, tell me of anything that mankind has invented that does not perform the same function as anything existing at the time or use technology existing at the time in a new way?

the raisin peeler

the raisin peeler

The what?

The what?

Aren't you tired of eating the outside of raisins?

Aren't you tired of eating the outside of raisins?

I don't remember the last time I ate raisins.

Can you, the Freetime Lords of NSG, tell me of anything that mankind has invented that does not perform the same function as anything existing at the time or use technology existing at the time in a new way?

Boob implants. *nod*

On a more serious note, there is the time when a concept is discovered and proven (scientific discovery) and the first time that a commercially viable (and commercially successful) implementation based on that discovery takes place (engineering breakthrough).

Which are you referring to, the scientific discovery as the first time, or the engineering breakthrough as the first time?

Also, some engineering breakthroughs take time. As an example, the "hit-to-kill" kinetic impact warhead, that carries no explosive and kills inbound ballistic targets from space by striking them directly began its engineering development in the late 1980s, and wasn't a proven technology deployed in numbers and proven in combat testing until the 21st century.

It is deployed in active service on the PAC-3 and SM-3 and GBI missile systems. The PAC-3 was proven in combat against multiple inbound ballistic missile targets during OIF (this century) and the SM-3 was proven against a satellite.

The same could be said of high-powered solid state lasers, which have been undergoing engineering development to reach engineering breakthrough (anticipated as sometime soon) at weapon power levels.

Boob implants. *nod*

Just an improved wonderbra.

Surely using the criteria they have given means that pretty much nothing has been invented during recorded history? Every invention is an improved method of doing something we did before.

Additionally, many engineering breakthroughs today are combinations of other ideas that no one put together in those ways before.

Many modern inventions are massive combinations of previous technology, and required a lot of study and design to get to work together now. So they're not mere improvements on old technology - they're something new.

How would you draw the line there?

refrigerators, computers, narrow gauge railways and power tools. everything else was a waste of the effort of large numbers of people to cooperate with each other to make it happen. (well ok, windmills, solar cells and batters to store the energy they produce, with which to power refrigerators, computers, narrow gauge railways and power tools)

oh the water wheel too, but aswan and three gorges are a bit much.

=^^=
.../\...

Just an improved wonderbra.

Surely using the criteria they have given means that pretty much nothing has been invented during recorded history? Every invention is an improved method of doing something we did before.

Well I belive that the Wonderbra was invented after the first boob implant, and I don't belive that they had such things in the ancient world(could be wrong there).

Now where's my prize then?:salute:

The television, for example, is just a cathode ray tube, which in turn is just a Crookes tube, which is just a Geissler tube, which is just a glass tube with wires at either end. So there has been no invention that involves glass since the discovery of glass ca 3000 BC.
I think you can take the reductionist view a little too far... there has been plenty of innovation involving glass -- fibre-optics for example -- that bear very little relation to the near-opaque glass of the Bronze Age. To suggest that they are just the same thing done over is to suggest that the naval architecture involved in putting together a nuclear-powered carrier has involved no invention beyond hollowing out a log to make a rudimentary fishing canoe.

Just an improved wonderbra.

Surely using the criteria they have given means that pretty much nothing has been invented during recorded history? Every invention is an improved method of doing something we did before.
That's the point I plan to make.
I think you can take the reductionist view a little too far... there has been plenty of innovation involving glass -- fibre-optics for example -- that bear very little relation to the near-opaque glass of the Bronze Age. To suggest that they are just the same thing done over is to suggest that the naval architecture involved in putting together a nuclear-powered carrier has involved no invention beyond hollowing out a log to make a rudimentary fishing canoe.

Again, my point is that D'Arcy's standards for what counts as in invention are really stupid.

That's the point I plan to make.
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Again, my point is that D'Arcy's standards for what counts as in invention are really stupid.
Apologies... the 'you' in my post is not directed at you personally, but at the stance that the DJ is taking. I agree with you :)

Apologies... the 'you' in my post is not directed at you personally, but at the stance that the DJ is taking. I agree with you :)

:fluffle:

Well I belive that the Wonderbra was invented after the first boob implant, and I don't belive that they had such things in the ancient world(could be wrong there).

Now where's my prize then?:salute:

In that case a wonderbra is a cheap knock off of an implant.

Implants are merely an improvement on Victorian style push-up corsets.

I read in "Illustrerad Vetenskap" (Illustrated Science) that some scientists in japan had found a way to create stand alone holograms.
The process involved having low powered invisible lasers intersect one and create visible light I believe.
Couldn't find the source though..will keep searching.

You could however say that that is just light, and has been around forever,
or images, that has existed since our ancestors started drawing on cave walls. ,)

In that case a wonderbra is a cheap knock off of an implant.

Implants are merely an improvement on Victorian style push-up corsets.

No I disagree. A boob implant is not pushing the boobs up to make them appear bigger, they make boobs bigger!

No I disagree. A boob implant is not pushing the boobs up to make them appear bigger, they make boobs bigger!

A new use for silicone.

A new use for silicone.

Damn you damn you!

Damn you damn you!

I could have said it earlier, but this was more fun.

I could have said it earlier, but this was more fun.

Damn you damn you, err again.

Can you, the Freetime Lords of NSG, tell me of anything that mankind has invented that does not perform the same function as anything existing at the time or use technology existing at the time in a new way?

youre dj is an idiot.

making something NEW is an invention even if the bits and pieces already existed.

interrupting the electrical flow in pattern to as to write out words is an invention even if electricty and wire already existed.

modulating the electricity so as to send SOUND down that wire is an invention even if the telegraph already existed.

sending a voice over radio waves to a specific reciever anywhere in the country is an invention even if the radio and telephone already exist.

having a cell phone that takes pictures, surfs the web, sends text messages, makes phone calls, keeps appointments, stores songs, tells time, and whatever else is an invention even if all those elements already existed seperately.

can i think of something very cool that im SURE was invented in the last 8 years....not at the moment but im pretty sure that there have been a few.

didn't they figure out how to make transparent aluminum?

didn't they figure out how to make transparent aluminum?

No. They didn't. I can see straight through your lies

Carbon Nanotube, and please don't say they are made out of carbon since if we are to judge base on the periodic table we might as well end the topic now.

And really, if the DJ doesn't know the difference between a CRT and a LCD, I don't think he's qualify to talk about technology. Unless he can explain how polarizing light and the manipulation of liquid crystal structure is the same as shooting red/green/blue on the screen.

No. They didn't. I can see straight through your lies

The truth on the matter is clear.

No. They didn't. I can see straight through your lies

my lies are made of transparent aluminum.

I'd vote for the memristor. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memristor)