The Sky is the Limit

Funny thing about skyscrapers. The ability to build a really tall building had existed for awhile before the first really tall skyscrapers. But the ability to do something doesn't trigger the necessity to do it. In the case of Really Tall Buildings, several things had to come together. Steel. Cheap labor. A need for such a building (mass influx of people into the cities), plumbing (try turning on the tap on the 84th floor), and ironically enough: the Elevator. Without a sufficient mode of moving people UP to the top of the building, the skyscraper could never be. Usually, its the simple, overlooked technology which propels people skyward.

I would really like civilian space travel to have been commonplace by now. I would really like my flying car, please. I want the Encyclopedia Britannica downloaded directly into my brain. In fact, I want everything I saw in Back 2 the Future 2, except for the Jaws sequel (sorry, Max).

The good news is that I remain optimistic about such novelties. Technology progresses rapidly, and as our resources dwindle, the necessity for new innovations increases. All we might actually be missing is that one little device that will skyrocket our progress.

What do you suppose that is?