Wasn't low-cost sequencing of human genomes created by the competition generated by an X prize? Maybe we simply aren't harnessing gamification principles properly. Maybe really big games like wars aren't the only way.
If you re-read my comment you will notice that I haven't said that wars are only way to induce progress.
However I did say that I would like to see an example of a phenomena that produced at least 50% of technological advances that warfare has.
Low cost genome sequencing is all nice and dandy - but thus far worthless. I'm not saying it ain't got potential, but thus far it hasn't really impacted us in any meaningful way. And I'd be willing to bet that any future impacts on this field are going to be financed through military complex.
Even the renewable energy sources will probably come from military and not from enlightened corporations.
Don't get me wrong - I'm not trying to pass judgment here. It's just an observation.
