Unacknowledged Innovation

Innovation happens so suddenly and unexpectedly that we really don't appreciatively think about it. Take, for instance, when people come over your house and you're giving them a tour and you say 'here is my couch, our lamp, and our computer over there' as if their all of equal significance and innovation. 'On that one I can lie down and on that one I can find out what was going on in the 15th century.' The couch was probably constructed when people first began domestically living and the computer was constructed like 20 years ago and has exponentially become more capable and powerful each subsequent year. 

But we don't appreciate it. People say that we haven't had any significant innovation in the last decade but think of what was going on in 2000. The internet wasn't nearly has pervasive as it is now and if you had it it was interconnected with your telephone line which had to be stifled to get on it. Now, we have wireless connection where you can buy those Wi-Fi ports if you want and you can get hooked up wherever you are and just to mention the cell phones that are basically mini-computers now. And to mention (Saying not to mention makes it sound like that should be the end of the sentence) the fact that we basically exchange currency through intangible means (i.e. debit cards, credit cards); paying for things through swipes.

 But what's the discernible importance of this? Well, being able to utilize the internet, which otherwise would be impossible, builds general knowledge. Historical events are documented and summarized on multiple sites, especially the newly innovative and founded Wikipedia. The American Revolution understandably failed to resonate with most people in elementary school. Now we can relearn it by opening up a computer. 

Furthermore, because of modern technology, diplomatic communication is far easier and substantially more used. Obama and Bush together have gone on countless excursions because of modern communication and transportation to foreign nations. Because of communications effect on diplomacy the means for solving disputes is less and less likely to be solved militarily. 

The internet also has made democracy more sustainable. People can interact with each other from the other side of the country and voice their opinions. Obama held his first Twitter conference the other day, where he took questions from diverse twitterers from across the country. The internet and TV has made the news more transparent and accessible. NY Times is readable throughout their Website for no charge. Journalist now have blogs that they frequent. Ezra Klein, who I follow, posts so frequently I can determine the exact hours that he must be sleeping. 

Americans have become immune to acknowledge the significance of recent innovation, and understandably so. Things have been happening so quickly in recent years that we haven't really had time to appreciate it and remember what it was like "prior to." What it was like prior to the invention of the internet. What it was like when nations had to communicate through messengers and letters. Let us appreciate our technology, and then, make the best use of it.