That someone happens at some point rather than another point is an interesting question to explore but is also one that probably seldom has good answers. Still, intellectual curiosity is a goal in self.
I wonder if a better starting point for the inquiry might not actually be why the invention was invented when it was—why the inventor made the effort in the first place. What problem was being solved. We can then look at various limiting factors to see if they would have made the effort futile if done at some earlier period of time.
That might help place some markets in history on when the invention became feasible.
But the question seems to have the two parts:
1) When the realities of the world support such an action/invention.
2) When does someone have that “oh, duh” moment when they thing “We could do this [easier] if X were present and I can figure out how to have X.”
We can reasonably get answers to the first part. I think for the second part we will find that more challenging.
A related question might also be about inventive thoughts and vision that were impossible at the time they were thought and theoretically designed and what role they had an shaping the future.
That reminds me lyrics in an old song (old as in 80 or 90s not 1500s ;-) “if you cannot change the world change yourself. if you cannot change yourself, change the world”
That someone happens at some point rather than another point is an interesting question to explore but is also one that probably seldom has good answers. Still, intellectual curiosity is a goal in self.
I wonder if a better starting point for the inquiry might not actually be why the invention was invented when it was—why the inventor made the effort in the first place. What problem was being solved. We can then look at various limiting factors to see if they would have made the effort futile if done at some earlier period of time.
That might help place some markets in history on when the invention became feasible.
But the question seems to have the two parts:
1) When the realities of the world support such an action/invention.
2) When does someone have that “oh, duh” moment when they thing “We could do this [easier] if X were present and I can figure out how to have X.”
We can reasonably get answers to the first part. I think for the second part we will find that more challenging.
A related question might also be about inventive thoughts and vision that were impossible at the time they were thought and theoretically designed and what role they had an shaping the future.
That reminds me lyrics in an old song (old as in 80 or 90s not 1500s ;-) “if you cannot change the world change yourself. if you cannot change yourself, change the world”