Original post: http://bearlamp.com.au/cutting-edge-technology/

When the microscope was invented, in a very short period of time we discovered the cell and the concept of microbiology.  That one invention allowed us to open up entire fields of biology and medicine.  Suddenly we could see the microbes!  We could see the activity that had been going on under our noses for so long.

when we started to improve our ability to refined pure materials we could finally make furnace bricks with specific composition.  Specific compositions could then be used to make bricks that were able to reach higher temperatures without breaking.  Higher temperatures meant better refining of materials.  Better refining meant higher quality bricks, and so on until we now have some very pure technological processes around making materials.  But it's something we didn't have before the prior technology on the skill tree.  

Before we had refrigeration and food packaging, it was difficult to get your fresh food to survive to your home.  Now with production lines it's very simple.  For all his decadence Caesar probably would have had trouble ordering a cheeseburger for $2 and having it ready in under 5 minutes.  We've come a long way since Caesar.  We've built a lot of things that help us stand on the shoulders of those who came before us.

Technology enables further progress.  That seems obvious.  But did that seem obvious before looking down the microscope?  Could we have predicted what bricks we could have made with purely refined materials?  Could Caesar have envisioned every citizen in his kingdom watching TV for relatively little cost to those people?  It would have been hard to forsee these things back then.

With the idea that technology is enabling future growth in mind - I bring the question, "What technology is currently under-utilised?"  Would you be able to spot it when it happens?  Touch screen revolutionised phone technology.  Bitcoin - we are still watching but it's here to stay.  

"What technology is currently under-utilised?"

For example "AI has the power to change everything. (it's almost too big to talk about)".  But that's a big thing.  It's like saying "the internet has the power to change everything" great but could you have predicted google, facebook and uber from a couple of connected computers?  I am hoping for some more specific ideas about which specific technology will change life in what way.

Here are some ideas in ROT13 (chrome addon d3coder):

• Pbzchgre hfr jvyy punatr jura jr ohvyq gur arkg guvat gb ercynpr "xrlobneqf"
• Genafcbeg grpuabybtl jvyy punatr vs onggrel be "raretl fgbentr" grpuabybtl vzcebirf.
• Nhgbzngvba jvyy punatr cebqhpgvba naq qryvirel bs tbbqf naq freivprf. Naq riraghnyyl oevat nobhg cbfg-fpnepvgl rpbabzvpf
• Vs IE penpxf orggre pbybhe naq fbhaq grpuabybtl (guvax, abg whfg PZLX ohg nyy gur bgure pbybhef abg ba gur YRQ fcrpgehz), jr zvtug whfg frr IE rkcybqr.
• Znpuvar yrneavat naq fgngvfgvpf unir gur cbjre gb punatr zrqvpvar
• PEVFCE naq trar rqvgvat jvyy punatr sbbq cebqhpgvba
• Dhnaghz pbzchgvat jvyy punatr trar rqvgvat ol pnyphyngvat guvatf yvxr cebgrva sbyqvat va fvtavsvpnagyl yrff gvzr.
• Dhnaghz pbzchgvat (juvyr vg'f fgvyy abg pbafhzre tenqr) jvyy nyfb punatr frphevgl.
• V jbhyq unir fnvq 3Q cevagvat jbhyq punatr ybpxfzvguvat ohg abj V nz abg fb fher.
  3Q cevagvat unf birenyy qbar n cbbe wbo bs punatvat nalguvat.
• vs gur pbafgehpgvba vaqhfgel pna nhgbzngr gung jvyy punatr gur jnl jr ohvyq ubhfvat.

As much as these don't all follow the rule of being consumer-grade developments that might revolutionise the world, I'd like to encourage others to aim for consumer viable ideas.  

This matters because this is how you see opportunity.  This is how you find value.  If you can take one thing on my list or your own list and make it happen sooner, you can probably pocket a pretty penny in the process.  So what's on your list?  Do you have two minutes to think about what's coming soon?

Cross posted to lesserwrong: https://www.lesserwrong.com/posts/3GP3j7zgKbnaZCDbp/cutting-edge-technology