The Invisible Roots of Progress: Top 10...

The popular essay "The Four Trees" offers an original lens through which to view technological progress. According to this concept, the development of any technology rests upon four metaphorical "trees": Tree 1 (The Idea): The fundamental concept or laboratory proof-of-concept. The principle is proven; the physics works. Tree 2 (The Mass Product): The stage of mass production and widespread infrastructure. What we produce at scale and use in daily life. Trees 3 & 4 (The Auxiliary Roots): Auxilia