Changes

Today, a Project X might have a basis in the coherent sonic beam that engineers at Leeds University invented. Modern microprocessors and imaging techniques could produce the refractor-ray screen. That Rand did not project a future in which those same microprocessors would be ubiquitous, suggests a failure of imagination, nothing more. ([[John Galt]] does not specifically mention the digital control system on which his ray screen would necessarily depend. Neither does [[Floyd Ferris]] describe the true technological secret of Project X in any great detail, beyond hinting that it grew out of [[Robert Stadler]]’s work—though how, Ferris does not make clear.)

Today, a Project X might have a basis in the coherent sonic beam that engineers at Leeds University invented. Modern microprocessors and imaging techniques could produce the refractor-ray screen. That Rand did not project a future in which those same microprocessors would be ubiquitous, suggests a failure of imagination, nothing more. ([[John Galt]] does not specifically mention the digital control system on which his ray screen would necessarily depend. Neither does [[Floyd Ferris]] describe the true technological secret of Project X in any great detail, beyond hinting that it grew out of [[Robert Stadler]]’s work—though how, Ferris does not make clear.)

Lawrence suggests another interpretation of the lack of late-twentieth-century technology.<ref name=notime/> He suggests that the alternative history of the novel takes place at a time when computers, airline travel, and so on, ''never developed.''

Lawrence suggests another interpretation of the lack of late-twentieth-century technology.<ref name=notime/> He suggests that the alternative history of the novel takes place at a time when computers, airline travel, and so on, ''never developed.'' {{cquote|Rand's comments notwithstanding, as social and economic conditions in the real world continue to change more and more from what they were when Rand wrote the novel, the "alternate reality" interpretation becomes increasingly more plausible than the "near future" interpretation. There is essentially no likelihood that the social and technological condition of the world would resemble the novel ten years from today, but it is possible to envision an alternative history in which collectivism choked off progress in the 20th century, so that technology became more or less stuck on early 20th-century standards (no computers, no jet airplanes, railroads as a primary means of transport, etc.), similar to what is depicted in the novel.}}

 

{{cquote|Rand's comments notwithstanding, as social and economic conditions in the real world continue to change more and more from what they were when Rand wrote the novel, the "alternate reality" interpretation becomes increasingly more plausible than the "near future" interpretation. There is essentially no likelihood that the social and technological condition of the world would resemble the novel ten years from today, but it is possible to envision an alternative history in which collectivism choked off progress in the 20th century, so that technology became more or less stuck on early 20th-century standards (no computers, no jet airplanes, railroads as a primary means of transport, etc.), similar to what is depicted in the novel.}}

Electrostatic motors (or ''quantum motors,'' as the [[motion picture]] adaptation suggests) and carbon-iron-copper alloys would be much more difficult. But electrostatic motors have been a dream of the electrical engineering sciences since the discovery of electricity itself. As to Rearden Metal, a real-life Hank Rearden might try to invent that, if the day ever came when the United States would lose all access to the ''rare-earth metals'', especially elemental [[titanium]]. Titanium is expensive, whereas carbon, iron, and copper would be common, therefore cheap.

Electrostatic motors (or ''quantum motors,'' as the [[motion picture]] adaptation suggests) and carbon-iron-copper alloys would be much more difficult. But electrostatic motors have been a dream of the electrical engineering sciences since the discovery of electricity itself. As to Rearden Metal, a real-life Hank Rearden might try to invent that, if the day ever came when the United States would lose all access to the ''rare-earth metals'', especially elemental [[titanium]]. Titanium is expensive, whereas carbon, iron, and copper would be common, therefore cheap.