how come there has been more inventions in the last 50years than in the previous thousands?

Answer 1

Because technology, information and learning all, by their very nature, tend to snowball as they are all self-fueling by the very nature that they are ongoing. And we live in an ever demanding world where something new earns you big bucks ....... so heavy investment goes into research because it pays. But just give a thought to what might come along in the next fifty years ? In my lifetime, I have seen colour TV emerge. DCs, DVDs, MP3 Players, mobile phones ..... I cannot begin to imagine what changes my children face. Lets hope they are all for the benefit of man ... Great question!

Answer 2

I believe that many of the inventions in the last 50 years took advantage of the discoveries made long before. They built upon the previous theoritical knowledge. Most of the great discoveries that we know of, were made earlier. These inventions practically realised the potential of those earlier discoveries.
Electricity was discovered long ago. The nature of matter was discovered long ago. Without these I don't know what the world would be like today. The theory of relativity and Quantum Mechanics and even the fundamentals of computers were established in the first part of the 20th century.
In fact if one looks at it carefully, most of the big discoveries and great ideas came much earlier. In the past 50 years, there have been very few if any big discoveries. But what has happened is that people have taken advantage of the older discoveries and applied them to achieve results.

Answer 3

In my opinion the inventions and discoveries made before 1950 were real breakthroughs. They were the solid ideas and each of them opened a real new horizon, whereas that type of discoveries are rare during these 50 years.

In the past 50 years those horizons already opened are well explored and in good speed. That is why it seems that we have more inventions in these 50 years. In fact most of the inventions and discoveries that are made now are based on the older ideologies, philosophies and discoveries.

Answer 4

Inventions usually "build upon each other". There's also been LOTS more people during the last 50 years than previously, and better communication between people to share ideas MUCH more rapidly.

Answer 5

I don't think there have been more inventions in the last 50 years, but we have invented the computer to keep better track of patents etc so it just seems like we have!

Answer 6

They are all poxy little gadgets, the Computer, Jet Engine, Aeroplane, Rocket are all over 50 years old the car over 100 and the train around 200.

Answer 7

Mainly education, we have a much wider knowledge of the way the world works especially mathematically and scientifically. Huge advances in technology, more wide-spread knowledge around the world because of internet and other forms of fast communication.

Answer 8

Because many modern inventions build off of recent science and technology. There are few recent inventions that require no recent technology or science.

Answer 9

The main invention that started ALL of this technology was the transistor. That and the proper use of electricity of course.

Answer 10

Because men have had more time to invent things since they stopped having to go hunting from dinner...