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Arthur C. Clark once said "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic". What technologies do we have today that would look like magic to people from the past? (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 year ago by BarrelAgedBoredom@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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I think lasers are pretty wack when you think about them through this lens. A small, wand-like object in your hand can make light appear from seemingly nowhere. If it's powerful enough it can set things on fire or blind people. Not to mention larger ones like laser cutters or the LLD, used to destroy missiles midflight. Thats sure to blow some feudal peasant minds

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[-] BaroqueInMind@kbin.social 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Even more simplistic: we take rocks and etch runes onto them, shoot them with electricity to make them think.

Also, I think you meant silicon. Silicone is what flashlights are made of... Which would also blow the minds of less advanced cultures: "You craft soft holes from rocks mixed with glues and you fuck it?"

[-] Balssh@kbin.social 4 points 1 year ago

I read some other word instead of flashlight and I almost threw up in laughter.

[-] exscape@kbin.social 7 points 1 year ago

That other word IS what they meant!

[-] BaroqueInMind@kbin.social 5 points 1 year ago

No you read that right. My autocorrect is thinking like a Puritan sometimes.

this post was submitted on 11 Jul 2023

219 points (97.4% liked)

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