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Innovation Getting Slower?

Daniel Dvorkin writes "A New Scientist article details the claims of Jonathan Huebner, a Naval Air Warfare Center physicist, that the rate of technological innovation is actually decreasing, not increasing exponentially as some people believe. Huebner says that there are now fewer 'important technological developments per billion people' than at any time since the 17th century! I'm far from convinced, but it's an interesting and thought-provoking article." From the article: "He says the rate of technological innovation reached a peak a century ago and has been declining ever since. And like the lookout on the Titanic who spotted the fateful iceberg, Huebner sees the end of innovation looming dead ahead."

13 of 512 comments (clear)

  1. I Blame by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny
  2. Slashdot by SuperJason · · Score: 5, Funny

    Personally, I blame slashdot. I could be inventing some crazy shit if I didn't have to check this site every 5 minutes.

  3. Blame Microsoft! by Flounder · · Score: 2, Funny

    Lack of innovation has always been their trademark.

    --

    No boom today. Boom tomorrow. There's always a boom tomorrow. - Cmdr. Susan Ivanova

  4. To Fix It by DanielMarkham · · Score: 5, Funny

    The death of innovation is due to apathy.
    I was going to invent a solution to the problem, but who cares?

    1. Re:To Fix It by slashflood · · Score: 5, Funny


      There is a fine line between (Score:5, Funny) and (Score:5, Insightful).

  5. USPTO by Asmodean · · Score: 5, Funny

    Innovation has been patented.

    --
    It's a good thing the world sucks or we'd all fall off.
    1. Re:USPTO by bratboy · · Score: 2, Funny

      A much better reason to close the patent office - there's nothing new out there to invent.

  6. Re:Patents... Lawyers... by Dunbal · · Score: 1, Funny

    Dear Manip,

    It has been brought to our attention that you have complained on an online "news" service, http://www.slashdot.org/ about companies being able to claim copyright infringement on your complaint.

    I must warn you that complaining about companies that hold copyrights/patents on your complaint has already been patented by our company (pat. 913,745,182,891). We demand that you immediately cease and desist such complaints about complaints, and you must also pay us $134,580,317.01 US for damages incurred to our company, the patent holders.

    Have a nice day,

    H, H and H, Hattorneys at large.

    --
    Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
  7. It's easier now to be stupid and still live by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny


    The clever have made it easier for the stupid to live.

    Stupid will now reward the clever by driving them into oblivion.

  8. Re:Restrictions should be lifted by mabhatter654 · · Score: 2, Funny

    As long as your space ship has a ray-gun you'll be fine... sure many have "patented" it... but the first to build a spaceship with lasers gets to fry the other guys!!!

  9. Re:Yay for Truth! by RandomCoil · · Score: 4, Funny
    20 years ago we had a very hazy idea of how virii worked.

    Perhaps in another 20 years, we'll all learn what the plural form of "virus" is.

    But otherwise, you have some good points.
  10. Re:I Blame regulators by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    "Red tape is something to live with and work thru"

    I think you mistyped "avoid and work around".

  11. Re:I Blame regulators by Pollardito · · Score: 3, Funny

    we may be getting fewer innovations, but the quality of them is clearly on the rise