High technology was not born in Silicon Valley. Born in War

Selling products is important, but we need to understand the role of war on consumer products. For pacifists who love technology and liberals who love it at least as much, that's a very profound irony.

Technology is a solid foundation of national power. The technologies that define an era usually come from a large geopolitical power. Their uses are clear.

For example, Roman engineering contributed to the formation of the Mediterranean world. British technology created and supported the industrial revolution.

These empires could absorb the cost of innovation because they had the money to do so. They also knew this would only reinforce their power. And because technologies are aimed at strengthening power, even the best ones in order, are invented for military objectives.

The Origin of iPhone

Think of an iPhone, an invention of Apple, the genius of Steve Jobs and a useful and harmless product. Or so it seems.

The main part of the iPhone, as with so many electronic devices today, is the microprocessor. The microprocessor was sponsored by the U.S. government long ago, when he needed an easy computer, missiles, planes and other systems.

Very soon, technology was used on F-14 warplanes, interccstinctical ballistic missiles and nuclear missiles thrown by submarines.

We move forward in time and go to 1985.

General Dinamics, then known as GTE, helped the American Army develop an advanced network for a device invented about 12 years ago. The device was the cell phone, which would face the first real test during Operation “Desert Storm”.

The military needed a reliable wireless communication system that could easily be moved. And the phone was the most appropriate.

Many of the iPhone's accessors, as well as supporting functions, were developed for similar purposes. The idea of digital photography was developed by the National Intelligence Office, which needed a more efficient way to produce satellite photos.

Maps and site services also have military origin. The GPS was originally meant to govern the systems and vehicles of the armed forces with accuracy, not Uber drivers. The satellites that make it possible, even today, are commanded by the U.S. Air Force.

And then there's the Internet, which is all at our disposal today. It was developed by the Advanced Defence Projects Agency mostly known as DARPA.

The latest generation of iPhones offer software for voice recognition. SIRI, as we know today, was originally a project of SRI International, an American research institute funded by DARPA.

When High Technology Matures

Some points are for emphasis.

The first and most visible is that iPhone, an innovation icon, is actually a compound of old technologies; Only SIRIA was invented this century. In fact, Apple updated those technologies, brought them together on a single platform and turned that platform into a packaged and sold in a great way.

However, what is called high <x0technology” is often an older, updated innovation for modern use. It's evolutionary, but it's not revolutionary.

Second, the military is a primary source of innovation in our society. The 50 years of the Cold War marked a peak of technological growth. The technology needed to support the global war in space, in air, in sea, under the sea, and on land was demanding unlimited creativity.

In this direction, the United States, with its intellectual and financial resources, had priority. But the public is either unconscious or indifferent to the fact that most of the technologies that we now consider peaceful are designed to allow the United States to wage global thermonocleary warfare.

Third, we remember not only technology age but also its maturity. Maturity is different from old age. Microprocessor cannot be considered the latest technology he was used in practice before 1970.

But neither can it be considered outdated. Still used extensively. It has become the foundation of society, although it is not being completely renovated.

The same can be said of the car and the internal - burning engine. It was very useful and would have been sold for over a century, but basic innovations were in effect since 1970. The industry mostly dealt with marketing after that year.

The microprocessor has a bright future, but his heroic days are behind him.

Innovation Model

Greater innovations follow this pattern.

A handful of scientists create opportunities, which are then developed for military use before they are sold on consumer markets. Governments, which are responsible for national protection, usually finance research.

The private industry, which eventually benefits from it, is highly against the risk of investing at that time. Instead, it benefits from seeking military development, uses it and declares how much the government's interventions in its work are not pleasing.

Selling products is important, but we need to understand the role of war on consumer products. For pacifists who love technology and the liberals who love it at least as much, it's a very profound irony. / Mauldin Economics ] The world..