What technology would you send to the past?

Question

If you could send one kind of modern technology to send back to any time and any place, where would you send it and why? You can answer broadly or narrowly as long as you explain why.

Answer 1

Sending one kind of technology only would possibly be extremely disruptive to earlier times, meaning that whoever receives it could not apply it properly or would abuse it without knowing the consequences. Imagine the roman empire with howitzer cannons: total domination over anything, and perhaps complete annihilation of other civilizations.

The one thing that may not be as disruptive could be medical science; but then again, if the middle age had access to antibiotic and modern drugs, the population would have be much greater then, and that could have led Europe trying to overtake the whole planet from the sheer bulk of their population.

Any change is disruptive, I do not thing that much good could be gained from being given technology without having also worked out the wisdom to use it properly, and that means having sweat the details and having invested in it.

Answer 2

A method to transport water quickly and efficiently. for this can stop fires (thereby saving great works of art and literature). save the thousands who could not get water to survive.

Answer 3

Medical, to save people's lives.

Answer 4

Nothing more than medical and sanitary (plumbing, etc.).  Sometimes it looks like technology has already advanced too fast for some people as it is, considering things like who has access to WMD that shouldn't.

Answer 5

I would send metallurgy techniques to the bronze age.

Answer 6

If I decided this was a good idea, and I'm not sure it is, I think the one thing I would send was the technology to access plentiful and clean water.

Answer 7

I wouldn't or couldn't send any one kind of modern technology back in time because I would start a ripple effect that would probably render myself and half of the world non existent. So if I don't exist how could I send anything back in time.  

For example, if I sent some piece of technology back in time that created a different job at a different location for Adolph Hitler's father so that he never met Hitler's mother and Adolph Hitler was never born, what effect would that have had on today.  Think about it.

Answer 8

I would send some disposable lighter to the cavemen.

(self explanatory)

Answer 9

I would send all the text books needed for getting a BS, ms and phd degree in math, economics, physics, chemistry medicine,and biology.

Because they would obviously be in English, I would send them to England of the Renaissance.

If we send this information the people of them would learn the laws of science and we would be 500 years more advanced in our technology.

Answer 10

Solar energy panels to the 16th century, and then could homefully have figured out a way to power a steam engine with them.

Answer 11

Google patent

Answer 12

the song "imagine"by john lennon