The process is completed， the loop closed， when the diffusion of technology embodying the new idea， in turn， helps generate new creative ideas. Today there is evidence that the time between each of the steps in this cycle has been shortened.
Thus it is not merely true， as frequently noted， that 90 percent of all the scientists who ever lived are now alive， and that new scientific discoveries are being mad every day. These new ideas are put to work much more quickly than ever before. The time between the first and second stages of the cycle —— between idea and application —— has been radically reduced. This is a striking difference between ourselves and our ancestors. It is not that we are more eager or less lazy than our ancestors， but we have， with the passage of time， invented all sorts of social device to hasten the process.
But if it takes less time to bring a new idea to the marketplace， it also takes less time for it to sweep through the society. For example， the refrigerator was introduced in the United States before 1920， yet its peak production did not come until more than thirty years later. However， by 1950 —— in only a few years —— television had grown from a laboratory novelty to the biggest part of show business. So the interval between the second and third stages of the cycle —— between application and diffusion —— has likewise been cut， and the pace of diffusion is rising with astonishing speed.
The stepped-up pace of invention， application and diffusion， in turn， accelerates the whole cycle still further. For new machines or techniques are not merely a product， but a source， of fresh creative ideas.
NEW WORDS
fantastic a. unbelievably large or great 极大的；难以置信的
spurt n. a short sudden increase of activity， effort or speed； burst 猛增；突然加速；迸发
conjure vt. cause （sth.） to appear in the mind 唤起；使想起
smoky a. giving out much smoke
mill n. factory or workshop
classic a. typical 经典的，典型的
representation n. sth. that represents 代表
represent vt.
symbol n. sign， mark， or object which represents a person， idea， value， etc. 象征
inadequate a. not adequate； insufficient
misleading a. causing wrong conclusions； causing mistakes
mislead vt.
invention n. the act of inventing； sth. invented
horse collar马轭
agricultural a. of agriculture
furnace n. 熔炉，炉子
apply vt. put into use or operation 应用，运用
occur vt. take place； happen
breed vt. raise （esp. animals） 饲养
vote n. 选票；选举（权）
advanced a. far on in development； modern
blast n. 鼓风；送风
blast furnace鼓风炉；高炉
electronics n. 电子技术；电子学
surroundings n. （used with a pl. v. ） everything around and about a place； conditions of life 环境
characteristic a. showing the individual character 表示特性的
essential a. necessary； most important
organization n. the act of organizing； an organized body or system
repetitive n. the act of organizing； an organized body or system
repetitive a. of or characterized by the act of repeating
repetition n.
function n. special duty （of a person） or purpose （of a thing） 职责，功能，作用
