In defense of NASA: was Re: Wirin' up blinkenlights

From: Douglas Quebbeman <dhquebbeman_at_theestopinalgroup.com>
Date: Mon Jun 12 10:03:09 2000

> However, I will strongly disagree with anyone who believes we would be in
> the same place technologically as we are today if there had _not_ been a
> space program (regardless of the motivations for pursuing space). By and
> large "mainstream" entities (ie business, banking, etc) do not "develop"
> technology, they "adopt" it. This is true of computers, fax machines
(which
> were in vented in the 1700's BTW), and telecommunications. Without some
> other force driving the creation of technology, mainstream folks don't
> change their ways.

I was aware that Toshiba was building facsimile machines in 1928
in Japan, but I didn't know the ability to send an image to a remote
location predated the deployment of electricity.

-dq
Received on Mon Jun 12 2000 - 10:03:09 BST