Bigger, Better, Faster

Overview

1900: A few hand-built automobiles are found among the steam, electric, and horse-drawn vehicles used for transportation. The industrial revolution and an age of invention -- most recently, electric light, telephones, and motion pictures -- have begun to change the face of the world. But factories and symphony orchestras still provide the loudest sounds around, few people have running water, ice keeps our food cold, and we can travel off the ground only by balloon. Today: We live in a world that is tied together by technology. We can travel to any part of the globe in a matter of hours and communicate by television, telephone, radio, or over computer networks nearly instantaneously. The world is awash in consumer goods, many of which are becoming even smaller, energy-efficient, and "smarter." We continue to use technology to explore outer space and to learn more about our world. Yet scientists and policy makers are still unsure how best to control technology to benefit humankind and to preserve and restore our environment