Inventions: The Speed of Technology

• Today in the mail I received my new issue of Time, and on the front was a lovely rendition of the iPhone promoting the "Best Inventions of 2007". Needless to say-- I was quite excited. Here's a link to the online-version of the article.

• It amazes me how fast technology is moving. I mean, bendable computer screens? Processors that are measured in nanometers? A machine that can convert blood types? Ideas are being churned out at top speed, with astonishing creativity, design,and often practicality. (Often being the most important word: advertised near the feature article in Time was a toothbrush that tells you how to brush. Since when do we need that?) I think The World is Flat is right: right brain thinking is essential these days. With so many new, innovative ideas, you have to be extremely creative to be successful.

• As technology grows and speeds up exponentially... I wonder how this is going to affect us. It's been said that new proffessions will emerge faster than we can learn about them. I think our problem is that our carraige is edging up on our horse (to use an ancient metaphor) Pretty soon, the speed of technology and design will get so fast that the consumer, the inventor, and the big companies will barely be able to keep up.

• So how do we fix this? Which is the better solution: to slow down the carraige, or speed up the horse?