From: Samantha Atkins (samantha@objectent.com)
Date: Thu Aug 28 2003 - 03:11:55 MDT
On Wednesday 27 August 2003 22:10, Spudboy100@aol.com wrote:
> Samantha:
> << 100 years ago we did not have the
> knowledge to even produce dependable electricity or even have electricity
> in many parts of the country. Battery technology is an important aspect
> of electrics. Battery technology did not do much new until relatively
> recently.
> Light weight materials are also a plus. It is hardly a worthwhile
> argument among extropians to put down something just because it hasn't
> already been done! >>
>
> I do not share your boundless optimism (which is an Extropian trait)
> concerning the development of robust alternate technology.
Well, I don't think it was "boundless enthusiasm" and I wasn't really speaking
generally about development of robust alternate technolgy in this case. I
was speaking about what makes electric cars more possible today. This is a
much more delimited subject.
To get general for a minute though, OF COURSE we can develop robust alternate
technology in many different areas of our current infrastructure as better
computation and materials, particularly toward the nanotech scale along with
better techniques become available. This is a no-brainer. What is more
questionable is only which technology areas are going to be subject to a fair
amount of change how quickly.
>After seeing
> what little has progressed since the 1st oil shock of 1973, I am very
> cynical. The reason is that I have no patience anymore with technological
> dreams that never seem to come true. There are always people (sometimes
> myself) who predict great technical advances, but these developments never
> make it to either the marketplace, or even as a demonstration project
> (technically doable but still too expensive).
>
Huh? You didn't sleep through the computer/information revolution did you?
> So, I am basically saying I am tired of being deceived. People have waited
> a long time for these technologies to mature to the marketplace, and they
> ain't. By the way, I hope You are right and these cars, generators, solar
> cells, and reactors jump on the scene, in defiance of my personal
> pessimism.
>
Sooner or later some of them obviously will come on the scene as real
alternatives unless we so severely screw up as to scrap technological advance
or do ourselves in.
I am curious what benefit you believe this particular pessimism holds for you.
- samantha
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Thu Aug 28 2003 - 03:18:45 MDT