I don’t agree (obviously) Without the invention of semiconductors, we’d never have space travel, satellites, PC’s, Internet, digital cameras and all the other technology that would be physically impossible to implement without the invention of the transistor, and subsequently IC’s and microprocessors.
I read a sci-fi story years ago, written in the 30’s, describing a fictional interstellar spaceship. The craft was over 5 miles long, and 2/3 of that was the size of the computer that was necessary to navigate in space. The writer had to imagine a vacuum-tube implementation, and did the best he could with the knowledge of the time.
We didn’t need to go find math, it’s in everything. We just needed to craft a way to discuss it.
The wheel/circle/sphere is so fundamental, I assert that it would have been “invented” at some point, no matter what. This inevitability frames it as more of a discovery in my mind.
A log is both a piece of tree and a type of wheel depending on perspective. When you see it as a wheel, do you really get to say you “invented” it?
Tools/wheels - conversion and focus of energy. Invention or discovery?
[FONT=“Georgia”]Well, energy and force make up our universe. But meanwhile the invention of the tools allow us to exploit energy and force as we need it.
So for me, I’d say there’s a discovery of electricity, but an invention of lightbulbs.
Or a discovery of fire but the invention of matches.
And yes, the sulphur on the match head was a discovery from nature. But after examining it, and learning it’s properties, some humans eventually modified it into a more useful form and that creation was the invention.
I guess you could say they go hand in hand then; Discoveries and inventions.
It’s odd. I think the big ones always ride a line between invention and discovery in my mind.
Would math be a discovery or because it can only ever be discussed in invented symbols would we call it an invention?
Tools/wheels - conversion and focus of energy. Invention or discovery?
That’s why I vote wheel boot, I don’t confuse myself with abstractions when it comes to wheel boots!
this forum …
I believe we can’t compare different invention and rank them on any random basis,
if we have to rank them here,
I believe Electricity is the greatest invention… but there are other technologies and medicals things to which I equally rank.
Yeah, wheel’s up there with, at least, Most Important. Lots of people said “teh interwebs” but I’m not really sure I could say that’s yet reached More Important or even As Important as wheels.
It’s odd. I think the big ones always ride a line between invention and discovery in my mind.
Would math be a discovery or because it can only ever be discussed in invented symbols would we call it an invention?
Tools/wheels - conversion and focus of energy. Invention or discovery?
That’s why I vote wheel boot, I don’t confuse myself with abstractions when it comes to wheel boots!
Without the invention of semiconductors, we’d never have space travel, satellites, PC’s, Internet, digital cameras and all the other technology that would be physically impossible to implement without the invention of the transistor, and subsequently IC’s and microprocessors.