Part 6/14:
The Feedback Loops of Accelerating Progress
A central theme in Crawford’s narrative is that progress is characterized by feedback loops—each breakthrough enables further advancements. For instance, the early Industrial Revolution intertwined coal, steam power, iron, railroads, and manufacturing. These technologies and infrastructures reinforced each other, exiting a cycle of mutual enhancement.
Even today, computers and software underpin nearly every aspect of modern life, and innovations in one area propel others forward. Population growth, fueled by better health and living conditions, increases the pool of scientists, inventors, and entrepreneurs, creating a virtuous cycle of growth and innovation.