Note also that "practical" is extremely subjective. The tungsten filament won out over the carbon arc for home lighting with better light quality and better durability. But it's not what we use to light up the IMAX.
Eli Whitney didn't invent the first cotton gin, he invented the first cotton gin that would work with the American long-fiber cotton without jamming up. That was only needed because better agricultural production technology made it so that there was more cotton harvested than could have the seeds combed out of it by hand.
A lot of it comes down to cost vs benefit. Babbage's difference engine was within the reach... (read more)
Note also that "practical" is extremely subjective. The tungsten filament won out over the carbon arc for home lighting with better light quality and better durability. But it's not what we use to light up the IMAX.
Eli Whitney didn't invent the first cotton gin, he invented the first cotton gin that would work with the American long-fiber cotton without jamming up. That was only needed because better agricultural production technology made it so that there was more cotton harvested than could have the seeds combed out of it by hand.
A lot of it comes down to cost vs benefit. Babbage's difference engine was within the reach... (read more)