It's not magic; it's the future! - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

alatar · 04-16-2009, 10:10 AM

You've must have heard the quote "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic," attributed to Arthur C. Clarke by now. What it's saying is that, some artifact may appear to be magical, but that may be due to our lack of understanding on how it works. For example, many of you carry incredibly powerful technology on your person and think nothing of it - the cell phone. Take one of these devices - especially one with a cool touch screen - back into the past, say about sometime in the 1970's. To those inhabitants of that time, the device that you show them is 'magical' (or maybe 'futuristic,' given the era), as it's like nothing that they've seen. Smaller than a TV, colour screen at incredible resolution, able to transport voice, text and images across space (note that for an adequate demonstration, you might want to bring two phones and a bunch of cell towers and a link to the future's internet), GPS, etc.

You think nothing of it; your time ancestors think it incredible. Little do they know that one day they will receive and *ignore* messages about how they can buy one of these little devices CHEAP!

Anyway, with this in mind, I would like to list out any and all magical artifacts found in the confines of Arda, and indicate that they weren't really magic, but just from a different time such as ours.

For example:

Palantíri - cell phones with video conferencing technology

Phial of Galadriel - flash light

The Black Arrow - a handheld surface-to-air self-guided missile

Athelas - Passiflora

Any other examples? Disagree with mine? Think of something that is still magical, even in this age?

Ibrîniðilpathânezel · 04-16-2009, 03:29 PM

The Watchers of Minas Morgul -- home/business surveillance and security system.

Interesting topic. I shall have to ponder it more....

Bêthberry · 04-16-2009, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alatar

Think of something that is still magical, even in this age?

Frodo's decision.

Sam's loyalty.

The love of Arwen and Aragorn.

The friendship of Legolas and Gimli.

The Ents--and Old Man Willow.

Tom and Gol--erm, no, I better not go there.

Rumil · 04-16-2009, 07:42 PM

Now I don't in any way believe any of this but it was just too tempting

(so sorry Bethb!!)

Frodo's decision. - Gandalf's hypnotism

Sam's loyalty. - outmoded Feudal kowtowing, he'll be firsst up against the wall when the revolution comesss, classssss traitor my preciousssssss!

The love of Arwen and Aragorn. - Rohypnol

The friendship of Legolas and Gimli. - modern day politically correct multiculturalism

The Ents--and Old Man Willow. - GM crops gone mad

Bêthberry · 04-17-2009, 09:00 AM

Oh silly me! Here I thought our biologist alatar was asking for scientific/technological explanations, not modern cynicism.

The Door to Moria -- evolutionary stimulus for the Babel fish

alatar · 04-17-2009, 09:44 AM

Think that Bb has us a wee bit off track.

The West Door of Moria could be simply a voice-activated door keyed to a specific word.

For Bill the Pony, we could just have a pony or the "Big Dog" four-legged walking robot. Similarly, Dwarves could be technology-enhanced humans. There's a framework that one can wear that allows the wearer to carry much heavier loads than normal possible. A person can move while wearing this structure as onboard computers assist.

Still, even with our advanced technology, one can only be 'so pretty,' and so we may never achieve elfdom.

Mnemosyne · 04-17-2009, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alatar

Still, even with our advanced technology, one can only be 'so pretty,' and so we may never achieve elfdom.

I think an allusion to walking on/in custard is relevant at this point.

04-16-2009, 10:10 AM	#1
alatar Doubting Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Heaven's basement Posts: 2,466	It's not magic; it's the future! You've must have heard the quote "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic," attributed to Arthur C. Clarke by now. What it's saying is that, some artifact may appear to be magical, but that may be due to our lack of understanding on how it works. For example, many of you carry incredibly powerful technology on your person and think nothing of it - the cell phone. Take one of these devices - especially one with a cool touch screen - back into the past, say about sometime in the 1970's. To those inhabitants of that time, the device that you show them is 'magical' (or maybe 'futuristic,' given the era), as it's like nothing that they've seen. Smaller than a TV, colour screen at incredible resolution, able to transport voice, text and images across space (note that for an adequate demonstration, you might want to bring two phones and a bunch of cell towers and a link to the future's internet), GPS, etc. You think nothing of it; your time ancestors think it incredible. Little do they know that one day they will receive and ignore messages about how they can buy one of these little devices CHEAP! Anyway, with this in mind, I would like to list out any and all magical artifacts found in the confines of Arda, and indicate that they weren't really magic, but just from a different time such as ours. For example: Palantíri - cell phones with video conferencing technology Phial of Galadriel - flash light The Black Arrow - a handheld surface-to-air self-guided missile Athelas - Passiflora Any other examples? Disagree with mine? Think of something that is still magical, even in this age? __________________ There is naught that you can do, other than to resist, with hope or without it.

04-16-2009, 03:29 PM	#2
Ibrîniðilpathânezel Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Back on the Helcaraxe Posts: 733	The Watchers of Minas Morgul -- home/business surveillance and security system. Interesting topic. I shall have to ponder it more.... __________________ Call me Ibrin (or Ibri) :) Originality is the one thing that unoriginal minds cannot feel the use of. — John Stewart Mill

04-16-2009, 07:42 PM	#4
Rumil Sage & Onions Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Britain Posts: 894	Now I don't in any way believe any of this but it was just too tempting (so sorry Bethb!!) Frodo's decision. - Gandalf's hypnotism Sam's loyalty. - outmoded Feudal kowtowing, he'll be firsst up against the wall when the revolution comesss, classssss traitor my preciousssssss! The love of Arwen and Aragorn. - Rohypnol The friendship of Legolas and Gimli. - modern day politically correct multiculturalism The Ents--and Old Man Willow. - GM crops gone mad __________________ Rumil of Coedhirion

04-17-2009, 09:00 AM	#5
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 5,997	Oh silly me! Here I thought our biologist alatar was asking for scientific/technological explanations, not modern cynicism. The Door to Moria -- evolutionary stimulus for the Babel fish __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.

04-17-2009, 09:44 AM	#6
alatar Doubting Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Heaven's basement Posts: 2,466	Think that Bb has us a wee bit off track. The West Door of Moria could be simply a voice-activated door keyed to a specific word. For Bill the Pony, we could just have a pony or the "Big Dog" four-legged walking robot. Similarly, Dwarves could be technology-enhanced humans. There's a framework that one can wear that allows the wearer to carry much heavier loads than normal possible. A person can move while wearing this structure as onboard computers assist. Still, even with our advanced technology, one can only be 'so pretty,' and so we may never achieve elfdom. __________________ There is naught that you can do, other than to resist, with hope or without it.