Fastest possible technological development

[tom]

Start in 1500.

[Justin Pickard]

Well, you've got Da Vinci to work with. I think that's where the best POD will be found.

[Roedecker]

The Luther Arkwright graphic novel series describes a parallel universe where technology progressed at a MUCH faster rate than our universe.

Here are some links to information about that universe:

http://www.bryan-talbot.com/arkwright/multiverse.html

http://www.bryan-talbot.com/luther.gurps/main.htm

http://www.bryan-talbot.com/luther.gurps/zero.htm

[tom]

This seems to have a PoD earlier than I postulated, unless I am misreading it.

[wkwillis]

Originally Posted by tom

Start in 1500.

Thermoelectricity vs galvanic cells lets you experiment more freely, if at lower power levels.
PbSe and PbTe and BiSe and BiTe are fairly simple alloys. Bismuth was known around 1500, but Te and Se weren't discovered til around 1800. If they were known earlier we would have had continuosly running thermoelectric circuits on the workbench and all we need is to have someone move a compass around and we have thermoelectricity and then it moves pretty quickly after that, as in OTL.

[tom]

1800? That is pretty late. What took them so long to discover them?

[wkwillis]

Originally Posted by tom

1800? That is pretty late. What took them so long to discover them?

They didn't even know they were there.