11th Hour
The evolution of railways tracks is quite fascinating. The earliest use of tracks goes as far back as at least 2000 years. The ancient trackway path, a combination of carved stone and wood in certain areas, The Diolkos, was used to transport goods, moving naval vessels, and bypassing dangerous (weather & pirates) circumstances.
In the 16th century tracks were initially made of wood, primarily used to haul the days exploits (coal & ore) from the local mine. Powered either by man or horse, depending on minecart size, the tracks would help navigate the minecart through the mine.
The first steam powered railway locomotive came around in the early 19th century. It could pull 10 tons of iron, 70 men and travelled 14km (9 Miles) and 25 years later, in 1829, the “Rocket” locomotive won a competition proving the steam locomotive fit for public use. The competition outlined certain rules such as weight and efficiency and brought about the railway age.
Just 50 years later, and the first commercial electric railway opened in Germany. Soon we’d get nations competing on who could build the fastest trains. Starting with 1903, a demonstration of the Siemens railcar at 210km/h, followed by in 1964, the Shinkansen (Japanese bullet train) at 210km/h, then in 1981 France’s TGV at 380 km/h, and finally in 2011 China’s CRH380BL with a top speed of 487.3 km/h. Despite these staggering speeds, Japan is testing a prototype maglev train that can do 603 km/h and China already has a German-developed monorail maglev train that can achieve 501km/h since 2003.
The tracks have evolved from carved stone, to wood, then steel and now magnets. How wild is that. If you think that’s all tracks have done, you’re forgetting about your favourite roller-coaster rides. Theme parks have innovated and built plenty of rides for the thrill seeking adrenaline junkie.
I enjoyed my train rides, and I especially enjoyed making faces to rando’s in a passing car. It was fun knowing I probably cheered up their ride or gave them something to talk about on their commute. But what I enjoyed most about my train ride, was looking at the tracks. The design and intricacies at main junctions were mind blowing. How do the drivers control them? What happens if they make a mistake ? Can a train reverse? Do they need to go to the cab on the other end?
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They don’t. They wait for instructions. Yes. No.
Do note that fastest trains would include extremely efficient systems to manage them. Train schedules, train tracks, maintenance of track and trains, and we’ll soon have high speed maglev trains, trains that are capable of 500kmph while floating above their tracks.
- Talk about how globalization and symbolize it to the trains. How in some key capitalistic sectors, they’ve propelled away leaving plenty of fields fending for themselves using Louis Brennan’s gyro monorail from 1901 as an analogy.
- Talk about how Christoper Nolans used Hollywood budget to help science in Interstellar. Talk about how art can compliment science. Are there any other sectors that can compliment each other? Talk about how networks are crossing, brands from different areas are cross collaborating, anime with shoes, toys and movies, games and multiple brands, electronics with fashion brands, anything else?
- Talk about what parallel economy is atm, and what you inspire it to be.
- My suggestion is to build a parallel economy, like railway tracks to compliment certain industries/business verticals. But also unlike railway tracks that are side by side, like that of maglev technology, to mimic the best aspects of the current economy and speed growth up, at least make it more efficient. We’ll definitely need to start off on rails, what sort of businesses can we replicate/ take over, and as we slowly grow, we can transition from rails to maglev and hopefully, eventually surpass the existing economies. Building economies on the blockchain will be faster to catch up, and perhaps when the time is right, help usher the “old” economy over, what do you think?
- Talk about blockchain saying that it is the most efficient tool we have to speed up processes, reduce errors, keep track of information in real time speed. Would we be able to create an engine to help us? How would you design this engine? SaaS? Social Media? If today’s economy is any example, cross collaboration is inevitable, help companies build strong BVs and connect them around. How would that engine look like?
- Talk about how you love planes more, but will always love travelling by train to be more grounded and when the time comes for you to travel to learn, you will always choose trains, despite of its higher cost. You’ve seen the beauty from the skies numerous times, but you want to absorb nature & life more through the train windows.
- We’re called to become stewards of all life. Can the new economy revolve around it. How can it be sustainable or profitable. What sort of economy can run on maglev tracks, what sort can be brought up to speed, what needs to be redesigned and what business is capable to carry the rest?
- Past economists are the true evil of the world. But they’re also the ones who can help us slither through, bypassing / taking advantage of legal loopholes & policies.
Apologies for not finishing, I am imperfect after all. Will come back to this eventually.
This is part of a series under “Project Kuchiku”, a project designed to help Fix the Future through Platform Building.
Please help this imperfect soul try to perfect this project by contributing $1/month here and share this idea of a better future with potential futurists. Arigato =)
