Why weren't hot air balloons invented earlier?
Chinese lanterns were invented between 300BC and 200AD. Why didn't someone make a big one i.e. big enough to hold a man?
3 Answers
it's very likely that although someone who lived at that time period saw the usefulness and functionality of such a device, that this person was of a social or economic strata that precluded them from being listened to when or even if they express that idea.
As an example of this, I submit this picture of an Olmec Indian toy found by archaeologists in Mexico:
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It should be clear to even a casual observer that the principles behind this small toy could easily be transferred into a larger device (or devices) with greater functionality. However, the Olmecs never did this and their society did not obtain the wheel until after the Spanish conquered the New World.
Again, just as there are items in general use now that very likely will one day be transferred into more advanced technologies, if a person does not have access to the correct social or economic markets, it's also very likely that their good idea will simply remain that: a good idea.
As an example of this, I submit this picture of an Olmec Indian toy found by archaeologists in Mexico:
It should be clear to even a casual observer that the principles behind this small toy could easily be transferred into a larger device (or devices) with greater functionality. However, the Olmecs never did this and their society did not obtain the wheel until after the Spanish conquered the New World.
Again, just as there are items in general use now that very likely will one day be transferred into more advanced technologies, if a person does not have access to the correct social or economic markets, it's also very likely that their good idea will simply remain that: a good idea.
There's a difference between an idea and being able to pull it off practically. Building a hot air balloon big enough to hold a person is very difficult and wildly dangerous, particularly when you don't have access to flame-resistant fabrics. At the same time, there really wasn't a lot of practical application to building such a balloon. You couldn't steer it, you couldn't really use it for transport. It would have been kind of cool, but that's not enough reason to devote the kind of time, effort, money and experimentation it would have taken to pull it off. Unless, of course, a rich enough guy wanted to, which (as far as we know) none ever did.
Ideas are a dime a dozen. Actually making them work in real life is the trick. This is one of those ideas that took a long time to develop.
Ideas are a dime a dozen. Actually making them work in real life is the trick. This is one of those ideas that took a long time to develop.
We don't have a record of someone trying this before the 1780's but it doesn't mean that it didn't happen.
A great idea is just and idea (an abstraction). A great idea manifested is a real and tangible invention. A real invention without the right PR is usually lost to the person that garners the publicity, even if it is decades later.
A great idea is just and idea (an abstraction). A great idea manifested is a real and tangible invention. A real invention without the right PR is usually lost to the person that garners the publicity, even if it is decades later.
