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Tools & Technology

from Ensonglopedia of the Human by John Hinton

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lyrics

As far as toolkits go, there is no older one
Than the stone age toolkit called the Oldowan.

The stone age is split into the Paleolithic,
The Mesolithic and the Neolithic,
And the stuff that they came up with was utterly terrific.
Knock knock knock with a fist-sized rock.
Scrape scrape scrape with a sharp flint flake.
Whack whack whack with a rough hand axe
Boom boom boom, it’s the world’s first spoon.

Tool, tool, tool me up.
I’m fashioning a tool and I just can’t stop.
From the first sharpened stick to the conquest of space
Tools are a trait of the human race.

Then came the time when we started to engage
With the smelting of metal alloys. It was all the rage.
First came the Bronze Age and then the Iron Age.
Oh how exciting! It’s the first recorded writing!
I just can’t cope! We’ve now got soap!
Woah man, for real! It’s the first spoked wheel!
It’s harder to harm a soldier in armour!

Then, with our own age getting nearer and nearer,
Comes the start of the historical era
When the dating of inventions is a lot lot clearer,
Wow, that’s ace!
It’s the spiral staircase!
Wow, that’s brill!
It’s the first windmill!
Yes yes yes!
It’s the printing press!
There’s still hope!
It’s the telescope!
This must be a dream!
Things are running off steam!

Tool, tool, tool me up.
I’m fashioning a tool and I just can’t stop.
From the first sharpened stick to the conquest of space
Tools are a trait of the human race.

The invention of electricity was a magical
Turning-point in making the world more practical.
This is the era electromechanical.
Night time’s solved! It’s the first light bulb!
This is fantastic! We’re making stuff with plastic!
Woah, what a trip! It’s the world’s first zip!
This is blowing my brain! It’s the first aeroplane!

Now mankind is really on a roll
And the speed of progress is taken to a whole
New level. Things are spiralling out of control!

Personal computers! Chemotherapy for tumours!
Manned space flight! The LED light!
Infrared lasers! Rechargeable razors!
Mp3s! DVDs!
The International Space Station!
CRISPR Cas-9 gene manipulation!
A vaccine against COVID-19!

What are the next
Technological steps?
A telescope that sees even further galaxies?
Will we integrate technology into our biology?
Will we live in space?
Have the power to erase
Humanity at the press of a key?
What new toolkits do we want to see?

Tool, tool, tool me up.
I’m fashioning a tool and I just can’t stop.
Without apology, I think technology is ace,
For I am a member of the human race.

credits

from Ensonglopedia of the Human, released July 18, 2021

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