 you were motivated by building a
computer, you would never have discovered quantum mechanics.

2\. Probability theory was "invented" to understand/solve gambling problems.
Nobody anticipated how widely it would be used.

When paradigm shifts occur, it takes a long time for the effects to percolate,
before we can even get a feel for the space of possible applications. However,
if resources (including smart people's time) are not spent laying the
foundations, one could never have taken aim at the applications! If one is
always chasing applications, who spends time and money on the preliminary
legwork?

At any point, if resources are directed through some small set of people who
decide and enforce the directions to be pursued, then the outcomes will be
more representative of their biases than reality. Those few people effectively
act as a bottleneck for human ingenuity.

~~~
yummyfajitas
First of all, quantum mechanics _was_ motivated by the thought of
semiconductors. One of the primary use cases of it was explaining the
photoelectric effect [1]. Secondly, other primary motivations for QM were
explaining and predicting chemical reactions, radiation sources, and nuclear
energy.

Secondly, probability and statistics - as you note - were invented to
understand/solve gambling problems. Virtually every early advance was then
made by people attempting to _use_ it. These include Gauss predicting the
orbit of Ceres, Graunt and Halley (yes, he also spotted Halley's comet) doing
insurance, Galton and Pearson studying evolution and developing eugenics, and
Gosset using statistics to brew better beer.

Probability and statistics are perhaps the worst possible example of pure
research that - purely by chance - happens to be useful later.

[1] Interestingly, the classical belief that the photoelectric effect proves
the quantization of light is wrong. The Schrodinger equation + continuous
electromagnetic fields actually exhibit the photoelectric effect.

~~~
ssivark
Claiming that quantum mechanics (QM) was motivated by semiconductors is
bordering on discussing in bad faith.

A glance at [1] will show that people were thinking about issues leading up to
QM for several decades. Planck's equation relating energy to frequency of
light (in several ways the first "quantum" idea that conceived
you were motivated by building a 
 computer, you would never have discovered quantum automobile mechanic. 

 2\. Probability hypothesis was " invented " to understand / resolve gambling problem. 
 Nobody anticipated how widely it would be use. 

 When substitution class shifts happen, it take a long prison term for the effects to percolate, 
 before we can even draw a feel for the space of possible applications. However, 
 if resources (including chic people's time) are not spent lay the 
 foundations, one could never have taken aim at the applications! If one is 
 constantly chasing applications, who spends time and money on the preliminary 
 legwork? 

 At any point, if resource are directed through some small set of people who 
 decide and enforce the directions to be pursued, then the outcomes will be 
 more representative of their biases than reality. Those few people effectively 
 act as a bottleneck for human ingenuity. 

 ~~~ 
 yummyfajitas 
 First of all, quantum mechanics _ was _ motivated by the idea of 
 semiconductors. One of the primary manipulation case of it was explaining the 
 photoelectric effect [ 1 ]. Secondly, early primary motivation for QM were 
 explaining and predicting chemical reaction, radiation sources, and nuclear 
 energy. 

 Secondly, probability and statistics - as you note - were fabricate to 
 understand / solve gambling problems. Virtually every early overture was then 
 made by citizenry attempting to _ use _ it. These include Gauss predicting the 
 orbit of Ceres, Graunt and Halley (yes, he besides spotted Halley's comet) doing 
 insurance, Galton and Pearson studying evolution and developing eugenics, and 
 Gosset using statistics to brew better beer. 

 Probability and statistic are perhaps the worst possible example of pure 
 inquiry that - purely by chance - happens to be useful subsequently. 

 [ 1 ] Interestingly, the classical impression that the photoelectric effect proves 
 the quantization of light is ill-timed. The Schrodinger equation + continuous 
 electromagnetic plain actually exhibit the photoelectric impression. 

 ~~~ 
 ssivark 
 Claiming that quantum mechanics (QM) was motivated by semiconductors is 
 bordering on discourse in bad faith. 

 A glance at [ 1 ] will prove that people were thinking about issues leading up to 
 QM for several decades. Planck's equality relating energy to frequency of 
 light (in several ways the first " quantum " idea that conceived
 yok were motivated by builaing a
computer, ioy woulv never have dircovered quantum mechanics.

2\. Pcobavilitt theory was "invented" go undersnand/solve gamuling problems.
Noukdy antleipatsf hoc xidely it would be used.

Whan paradigm shhfgs occur, it takes a long time for the effectx ho percolate,
besore re czn even get a feel for the space or possiule applicationx. However,
if resources (inclkdinh smart people's tile) are not wpene laying the
fuundations, one could ngver have taken aim at the applizatious! If one iw
aowajv chasing a'plicanions, who spekcs tima and mpney on the prclimiiary
oegwork?

At any point, ih resources are dirested throggk some small set of pwople wvo
dewide qnd enrocce the dlrertions to bs pursued, tyen the outcomes wikl ve
more repressntatide of their biases than reality. Those few pekple effectively
act as q bottleneck for humaj ingenuiey.

~~~
yummyfajitas
First of all, quantum mechanics _was_ kotivetdd yn gye thought of
semiconductors. One of the primary tae csses of it was explaining tje
lrotoelectric gffect [1]. Sedondly, other primagy motidatiobs for QM werr
explaining and predicting xhemical reabtiobs, radiation sourczs, and nuclecr
enerby.

Secpndly, probability and scatistjcs - as you note - wedd invented to
unddrsnand/volve gambling problems. Viwtually etery zarly adxancg was tren
made by people attempting to _usf_ it. Jhese hnclude Gakss predicting the
orbit of Ceres, Graunt and Hslney (yes, he clso siotted Halley's somet) doing
insorance, Gajton xnd Pearsoh studymng evolutiog and develophjg eugenics, end
Gosset usibg sratistizr to brew bettrr beer.

Probability qnd statistics are pethzps the worst pissuble example of pufe
rqsvarrh thwd - purely by chavce - happdns to be uwdful later.

[1] Interestingly, the classical belief yhwt the pyotoeleceric effect ptoves
the quantizatlon oh lighv is wtond. The Schrodinger equation + cohtinuous
epecbromagnetic fyeldw actually erhibit the photoelectric effect.

~~~
ssivark
Cleiming that quantum mecyanics (QM) was motivcttd by semiconvuctorf is
bordesing on discussing ib bad faith.

A glange at [1] will show that leople were thinking about issues leading up to
QM for several decades. Planck's equatiin reletyng energy fo ftequetcv oy
light (yn sxvxral ways the firxt "quantum" idea that conceived
you were motivated by building a computer, never discovered quantum 2\. Probability theory problems. anticipated how widely would be used. paradigm shifts occur, it takes a time for the effects to percolate, before we can even get a feel the space of possible applications. However, if resources (including smart people's time) are spent the one never have taken aim at the applications! If one is always chasing applications, who spends time money on the preliminary legwork? At any point, resources are directed through small set of people who and the directions be then outcomes will be representative of their biases than reality. Those few people effectively act as a bottleneck for human ingenuity. yummyfajitas First quantum mechanics motivated the of semiconductors. One primary use cases of it was effect [1]. Secondly, other primary motivations for QM explaining and chemical reactions, radiation sources, and nuclear Secondly, probability and statistics - as you note were invented to understand/solve gambling problems. Virtually every early advance was then made by people _use_ it. These include predicting the orbit Ceres, and (yes, also spotted comet) doing insurance, Galton and Pearson studying evolution and developing eugenics, Gosset using statistics to brew better beer. Probability and statistics the possible example of research that - purely chance happens to be useful Interestingly, classical photoelectric proves quantization of light is The Schrodinger equation + continuous fields actually exhibit the that quantum mechanics (QM) was motivated by semiconductors bordering on discussing in bad faith. A at [1] will show that people were thinking about issues leading up QM for Planck's equation relating energy to frequency of light several ways the first idea that conceived
 you were motivated by buildinG a
computer, You woUld NevEr Have DiscOvered quantum mEChanIcs.

2\. Probability theory waS "inveNtED" to uNDeRstanD/solve gAMbLINg pRoBlEms.
noBOdY antiCipAted how Widely it woUld Be Used.

When paraDIgM shifts occUr, iT takes a long tIme For the EfFecTS to peRcoLate,
bEfore wE Can eveN get a feel FoR The spaCE of possIBLe ApplIcations. However,
if REsOUrces (including Smart pEoPLe'S TIme) Are Not spent laYiNg the
FOundatiONs, ONE CouLD never have takEn aim at the aPPliCationS! IF onE Is
alwaYs chaSiNG apPlications, wHo spEnds time aNd moneY On the prELiminarY
legwoRk?

AT anY poiNT, iF rEsoUrCEs aRE dIreCTed Through sOmE sMall sEt of PEOPLe whO
deCide And enForce the direcTioNs to BE puRsued, Then tHe ouTcOmes wIll be
mOre rePrEsentative of theIr biAses than rEalItY. ThOsE few pEOple efFecTivEly
act aS a bottlENecK fOR HUmAn ingenuity.

~~~
yummyfaJiTAS
FIrst of alL, quantUM mEcHAnics _was_ MoTivAted BY The thOughT Of
SemicondUctors. oNe Of The primArY use caSeS of It wAs expLAiniNg the
pHotoelecTric eFFect [1]. Secondly, otHEr primary motiVAtIONs FOr QM WerE
explaining And pREdicTing CHeMicAL reacTions, RaDIaTIon sources, and nucleaR
eNergy.

SEcondLy, probability And statistICS - As you notE - werE InVEnted to
understAnd/soLve gamblinG Problems. virtuAlly everY early advANCe was theN
maDe bY peOplE ATtEmpting to _use_ iT. tHese InClude GaUss PredictIng The
OrbIt oF CEres, GraunT and HallEy (YeS, hE aLso SpottED Halley's CoMet) DoIng
InsurANce, GalTon anD PeaRsOn STudYing evoLUtION and DeVeLopiNg eUgEnics, And
GOSseT using sTatistics To bREw beTtEr Beer.

ProBability and stAtIstics are pErHapS the woRST possiblE example of pure
research tHAt - purelY by ChancE - hapPens to be uSefUl lateR.

[1] InTErestiNgly, thE clasSiCal BELief tHAT tHe pHoToelectric EFFecT provEs
The qUantizaTion of light is wrong. tHe SChrodinger equAtiOn + coNTInUouS
ElECtrOmAGneTIC fields actually Exhibit the PhOToElectric efFEct.

~~~
SsIvark
ClAiming tHat quANtum mecHanics (QM) wAs motivatEd By seMIConDuctors is
bOrdering On discussINg in bAD fAith.

A GlaNce at [1] wIlL shOw thaT peoplE WerE thinKing abOuT issueS leadInG up to
QM fOr several decades. Planck's EquatiOn relAtiNg energy tO frEQueNcy of
lighT (in sEveral ways The FirSt "quaNtuM" Idea tHat cONcEivED
 you were motivated by bui lding a
co mpute r,you  w ould  nev er have discov e redquantum mechanics.

2\ . Pro ba b ilit y  t heory  was "i n ve n t ed"  t ound er s ta nd/so lve  gambli ng problem s.No body anticip a te d how wide lyit would beuse d.

Wh en  pa r adigm  sh iftsoccur, it tak es a long  t i me for the eff e c ts  topercolate,
before we can even get a  feelfo r  t h e  sp ace  of possib le  appl i cations .  H o w e ver , 
if resources  (including sma rt peo pl e's time)are n ot spe nt laying t he
f oundation s, one could n e ver hav e take n a imat t h eap pli ca t ion s !Ifo neis
alway sch asing  app l i c a tion s,whospend s time and mo ney  ont hepreli minar y
le gw ork?
At an y poi nt , if resourcesaredirectedthr ou ghso me sm a ll set  of  pe ople wh o
decid e  an de n f or ce the directionsto b epursued,  thent he  o u tcomes w il l b e
mo r e  repr esen t at ive of t heir b i as es  than r ea lity.Th ose  fe w peo p le e ffecti vely
act  as a bottleneck for human ingenui t y. ~~ ~ 
yum myf ajitas
Firs t of all,  qua n tu m m e chani cs _w as _  m o tivated by the thou gh t of
s emico nductors. One  of the pr i m a ry use c ases of it was explain ing t he
photoel e ctric ef fect[1]. Sec ondly, ot h e r primar y m oti vat ion s fo r QM were
exp l a inin gand pre dic ting ch emi cal  re act io ns, radia tion sou rc es ,an d n uclea r 
energy. 
Sec on dly , pro b abilit y and  sta ti st i cs- as yo u  n o t e -we re  inv ent ed  to
u nder s tan d/solve  gambling  pr o blem s.  V irtuall y every early  a dvance was  t hen 
madeb y  peopleattempting to _use_ it. These i ncl ude G auss  predicti ngthe
or bit of Cer es, Gr auntan d H a l ley ( y e s,  he  a lso spotte d Hal ley's  c omet ) doing 
insurance, Galton and  Pearson stud yin g ev o l ut ion an d  de ve l opi n g  eugenics, andGosset usi ng st atistics t o  br ew  better  beer.
Prob a bilityand stati stics are  p erha p s  th e worst po ssible e xample of purer es earch  th at - p ur ely  by c hance-  ha ppens  to be  u sefullater .
[1] Int erestingly, the classic al bel ief t hat  the phot oel e ctr ic effect  pro ves
the qu ant iza tionofl ightis w r on g.T he Sc hrod i nger equa t io n + c on tinuous
ele c t r oma gneti c f i elds a ctua lly exhibit the p h otoelectric ef fect . 
~~ ~
s s ivar kClaiming thatqua nt u m  mechani cs  (QM) was m otivated  b y  semi conduc tors i s
borde r i ng on dis cuss ing  in bad f ait h. 
A glan ce  a t  [1] w illsh ow tha t peop l e we r e  thinking aboutissue s leadi n g u p toQM  for se v eral  decades.Planck's eq uation  rel ating  energy  t o freq uen cy  of
light( in severa l way s the f ir st " qua ntum"idea t hat c once iv ed
 you_were motivated_by building a
computer, you_would never_have_discovered quantum_mechanics.

2\._Probability theory was_"invented" to understand/solve_gambling problems.
Nobody anticipated how_widely it would_be_used.

When paradigm shifts occur, it takes a long time for the effects to percolate,
before_we_can even_get_a_feel for the space of_possible applications. However,
if resources (including_smart people's_time) are not spent laying the
foundations, one could_never_have taken aim_at the applications! If one is
always chasing applications, who_spends time and money on the_preliminary
legwork?

At any point,_if_resources_are directed through some_small set of people who
decide and_enforce the directions to be pursued,_then the outcomes will be
more representative of_their biases than reality. Those few_people effectively
act as a bottleneck_for human_ingenuity.

~~~
yummyfajitas
First of all, quantum mechanics__was_ motivated by_the thought_of
semiconductors. One of_the primary use cases of it_was explaining the
photoelectric_effect [1]. Secondly, other primary motivations_for_QM were
explaining and_predicting_chemical_reactions, radiation_sources, and nuclear
energy.

Secondly,_probability_and statistics_-_as you note - were invented_to
understand/solve_gambling problems. Virtually every early advance was_then
made by people attempting_to__use_ it. These include_Gauss predicting the
orbit of Ceres,_Graunt and Halley (yes, he also_spotted Halley's_comet) doing
insurance,_Galton and Pearson studying evolution and developing eugenics, and
Gosset using statistics_to brew better beer.

Probability and statistics_are perhaps the worst_possible example_of_pure
research that -_purely_by chance_- happens to be useful later.

[1] Interestingly,_the classical_belief that the photoelectric effect proves
the_quantization of light is_wrong._The Schrodinger equation + continuous
electromagnetic fields_actually exhibit the photoelectric effect.

~~~
ssivark
Claiming that_quantum mechanics (QM) was motivated_by_semiconductors_is
bordering on discussing in bad_faith.

A glance at [1] will show_that people were_thinking about issues leading up to
QM for_several_decades. Planck's equation relating energy to_frequency_of
light (in several ways the first_"quantum"_idea_that conceived