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Old 05-13-2015, 02:28 PM   #33
blankall
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MickMcGeough View Post
Something doesn't have to employ never-before-seen-technology to be revolutionary.

Castro didn't invent communism, but it was still a revolution.

Multi-touch screens were 25 years old when the iPhone came out. Nerds and hyperactive business types had been on the internet with their phones for years. But the smartphone revolution still started with the iPhone.

A revolution doesn't happen when someone invents a new technology or idea. It happens when someone applies a technology or idea to change people's lives.
As someone who worked in the cell phone industry when the IPhone came out, I can testify to the quality of the internet capable phones prior. They sucked. Yes we had touch screens, but the devices they came on were big, clunky, bad on power, rarely worked, etc.. The Palm Pilot phones had been available for years but simply weren't that good.

The issue is really the same for solar power right now. You could theoretically power your home right now with solar power...it would cost you about $40,000 in equipment, it would be clunky, you'd suffer from power outages and brown outs (even with a good battery), etc...

With technology it's not usually a question of social revolution. It's a question of getting technology that actually works. That being said, the technology is quickly improving in price and function, and there is no shortage of investment in to solar energy and battery technology.
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