Shunned technologies from the past

3689502128?profile=originalMachine Trashing (1812)

I've been doing some research on the history of technologies that, in spite of their benefits, have been misunderstood or vilified. 

A search for "shunned technology" turned up this interesting story -- about the zipper's struggle to find a place in the market during the early twentieth century:

http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/Pioneers/2012/0424/Gideon-Sundback-At-first-the-world-shunned-the-zipper

Some excerpts --

"Despite the devices attributes, the public was not receptive," writes fashion historian Ronald Knoth. "The pulpit decried, 'The Hookless Fastener' as 'the Devils fingers,' [because it made it easier] to remove clothing with autonomy.

...

The US Army used Sundback's interlocking teeth for gear and clothing, but zipper didn't take off in civilian clothing until 1923, when B. F. Goodrich Company wanted to innovate on the standard boot. It introduced the "Zipper Boot," the first time anyone called this mechanism a "zipper." The name stuck. 

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How many of our everyday technologies had to persist against the inertial forces(fictitious forces) of fear and lack-of -imagination? I think it was many.

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  • The way micro electronics are going it won't be long when some one is born they will put a micro chip behind there ear with a brain tap and they will grow up all knowing all thinking able to talk with any body any where in the world and visulize any thing any where .

    I am getting older now but  some of the Significant things I found "eye openers'  Electronics went from the tube to the transistor to the integrated circuit. colour tv .they walked on the moon .I had a encyclopedia Britannica every year they printed an up grade book one day I went in the electronics store and the whole encyclopedia was  on a mini cd. Amazing ! then when debit cards came out The first time I used one was at the grocery store  the money came right out of my account Amazing! I use to be pretty good with computers but since I was getting what they call  "Senior Syndrom" I started loosing it somewhere between windows 95 and windows 98 (I never did figure out how to program the clock on the VCR at least I didn't buy Beta) after a encounter with a hammer years ago my thumb doesn"t work right and ! can't use a touch pad phone , I just look at them in Awe???Amazing! I am shure there are Hall marks in other peoples lives out ther  from the tecnical revolution also

    Have a Great Day

  • T3

    There is a great documentary (interesting in its own right) about the early days of steam and its impact on various facets of industry. I can't remember the name. Time after time, the machines were viewed as taking away jobs. Jobs that existed for hundreds of years over many generations. People would break into the textile mills and destroy the machines. Mill owners built their buildings into fortresses for this reason. Thankfully, progress could not be stopped and in the end, the economy boomed.

  • Thanks for the feedback Carl.

    Yes, the envelope is definitely being pushed. I guess that's what i was getting at with reference to fictitious forces.

    The classic example of this, is the force experienced by the occupant in a vehicle. They "feel" like something is pushing their chest into the seat, but in reality the seat is pushing them in the back.

    All the "backlash" we're seeing against drones is merely proof that they are becoming a permanent part of our society. It's much the same as immigration dynamics.

    There is a certain personality type in society -- that likes to plant their feet in the middle of the course, and then complain about the current. 

  •  Thanks for sharing. We are at the "New Beginning "Every day the "Envelope" is being pushed it would be interesting to be around to see what has happened 100 years + Have a great day!

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