Connections (Score 2)

I think the "Connections" series attacked this issue the best. Innovation is an itterative proccess and it builds on itself. Different things change at different times and it takes society time to obsorb these changes. The defining factor for the integration of the technology that we see today was World War II. How long would it have taken for the aircraft industry to catch on without the industrial build up of the war?

Now wait a few years and you will see some interesting things. We already see the reactions of businesss to the increased communication abilities given by the internet. Non-Compete and Non-Disclosure agreement are in part a result of workers abilities to shop the world for employment opportunities. "Copyright protection" is the result of content providers inability to accept the fact the instant content access dilutes the value of a single work. How much is one work worth when thousands can be accessed in seconds. Increased competitition lowers prices.

Add DNA research, advance transportation techniques, advances in particle physics ...etc into the equation and we haven't seen anything yet!!!