The math of the collective consciousness
By Anthony Pesce
Nov. 16, 2005 9:00 p.m.
Though most would see no relation between the poetry of William
Wordsworth and engine production, John Lienhard’s theory of
the arc of invention seeks to explain the links between seemingly
unrelated cultural phenomena and invention.
John Lienhard, a professor, author and radio personality, gave a
talk Wednesday presenting his theory as part of the 60th
Anniversary of UCLA’s Henry Samueli School of Engineering and
Applied Science.
The focus of the presentation was on the “arc of
invention,” a theory developed by Lienhard that explains the
sudden exponential growth of invention as a result of the
cumulative effect of many smaller ideas and innovations.
The presentation was based on ideas developed over a series of
years on Lienhard’s radio program, called “Engines of
Our Ingenuity,” which “uses the record of history to
reveal the way art, technology, and ideas have shaped us,”
according to the program’s Web site.
One example that illustrated the arc of invention involved the
development of land transportation. Lienhard explained how the
speed of land transportation has increased exponentially over time,
especially with the development of the engine.
Engines, after the initial point of their invention, experienced
a sustained rate of exponential growth in thermal efficiency, until
they reached a point where innovation was no longer about the
efficiency of the engine, but about the aerodynamics of the vehicle
itself.
“During that period where technology is driven by
ingenuity, (ingenuity) is relentless,” Lienhard said.
One of the more controversial aspects of Lienhard’s theory
is that, with each different technology, the rate of exponential
growth remains constant over time.
“Technologists working in a particular field tacitly agree
upon an expected rate of improvement of their technology and, as
long as that field is active, the rate does not change,”
Lienhard said.
Laurent Pilon, an assistant professor of mechanical and
aerospace engineering who attended the event, said Lienhard
presented an “interesting look at technology.”
“This is an opportunity to reflect on where our technology
is coming from,” Pilon said.
Lienhard completed his undergraduate education at Oregon State
College with a degree in mechanical engineering, and earned his
doctorate at UC Berkeley. He completed his masters degree at the
University of Washington, where he later taught.
Lienhard started teaching in 1952 by instructing other engineers
through workshops at Boeing.
The unique dual perspective Lienhard gets as a professor
emeritus of both mechanical engineering and history at the
University of Houston allows him to draw conclusions about the
connections between different ideas and inventions that he uses to
formulate his theory.
Having written 2,038 radio shows since his show first aired in
1988, Lienhard says he has experienced no shortage of inspiration
for his work.
“Ideas are everywhere ““ once you open your eyes and
open your ears, there is no end,” Lienhard said.
Though the ideas for his work are virtually limitless, Lienhard
said the trick to writing his show is making “an event into a
story by finding references and links” to tie the different
aspects together.
During the presentation, Lienhard invited the audience to make
some of the connections between his theory and real-life examples
on their own.
“One of the worst things an engineer can do (for an
audience) is tell the whole story from point A to point B. People
want to be drawn into the complexity of the problem” and
guided to the solution, Lienhard said.
