Re:How I Accidentally Kickstarted the Domestic Drone Boom
by Alex3917 on Sunday June 24, 2012 @12:12AM
(#4152568)
"Ethernet and laser all those amazing tech was created by private companies and computer networks were created by enthusiast before DARPA."
But would we ever have actually had the Internet before DARPA? It took over 30 years before the Internet actually became a mainstream and profitable thing. If the net had been developed by private companies then they would have done it in such a way that would have let them become profitable within a year or two, so it's unlikely that the net would be anything like what it is today. And for all it's flaws, it's hard to imagine it being better if it were developed by private industry.
Re:How I Accidentally Kickstarted the Domestic Drone Boom
by eli on Sunday June 24, 2012 @05:33PM
(#4154300)
I feel confident that some form of interconnected global computer network was inevitable. I don't know if it would be better, but surely it would exist.
And there are many examples of private companies pioneering something new even if it takes huge upfront resources and years of planning.
Oh, really? Mr Limdbergh begs to differ: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Lindbergh
He got some training in the military but he then beats them later.
Technology has been historically been pushed as much by civilian industry as the military, or more. If only you let civilians spend their money and you don't steal all their money in taxes like you do in war times.
Internet and other tech are widely attributed to the military by their supporters but that is not entirely correct. Ethernet and laser all those amazing tech was created by private companies and computer networks were created by enthusiast before DARPA.