I don’t know if the ice-ages contributed that much to serious reductions in technology. But the Black Death did cause a substantial drop in total population.
You’re right. I meant they reduced population. Need to fix that.
Well, there are more complicating factors here as well, such as what is being patented. There are a lot more things now where minor improvements can still occur. But how many of those patents are in the category of things like the wheel that as you observe are large game changers? Pretty few.
Computers, cell phones and the ballpoint pen come to mind over the last century.
Besides, figuring out that you could attach buttons to childrens’ coats as well as adults’ wasn’t a big HG invention.
Overall, I agree with your post. If I ever get seriously interested in this problem, I will have to look up quantitative “values” for the quality of patents, and worldwide patents and inventions rather than just the US.
As for low-hanging fruit, Moore’s Law comes to mind. But again, I would have to actually study it further if I am to speak intelligently on the matter. And besides, that’s why the world needs more people many standard deviations up from the mean, because those are the people who move progress forward.
You’re right. I meant they reduced population. Need to fix that.
Computers, cell phones and the ballpoint pen come to mind over the last century.
Besides, figuring out that you could attach buttons to childrens’ coats as well as adults’ wasn’t a big HG invention.
Overall, I agree with your post. If I ever get seriously interested in this problem, I will have to look up quantitative “values” for the quality of patents, and worldwide patents and inventions rather than just the US.
As for low-hanging fruit, Moore’s Law comes to mind. But again, I would have to actually study it further if I am to speak intelligently on the matter. And besides, that’s why the world needs more people many standard deviations up from the mean, because those are the people who move progress forward.