The Glass Age

[Grant Lamontagne]

According to Adam and Jamie (aka the Mythbusters) in the following video, there is an argument to be made that we are living in the Glass Age.



As a bit of a warning, this video and the one that follow are sponsored by Corning, the company that produces a good chunk of glass products for a number of different applications.  While the first video is quite generalized, the second part seems very much like a commercial for Owens Corning, so be warned.  Still worth watching though.

Getting back to the premise though, the idea is that we live in the Glass Age because virtually everything we use has some type of glass in it, and I agree...... sort of.

I don't think they are broad enough in their conclusion that glass is important in almost every aspect of our society.  In fact, I think more accurately we will be seen as living in the Silicon Age, as silicon is, among other things, one of the basic ingredients in glass.  Further, many everyday products we have or use contain silicone, from sealants and glues to most modern cookware, to watch straps, bungee cords and yes, even clothing. Plus, just about everything nowadays is computerized, and computer chips are silicon.

So.... I figure we are in the Silicon Age rather than the Glass Age, and as far as I'm concerned, every argument made for Glass is also a point in favor of silicon.

Sorry Adam and Jamie..... but we have to disagree on this one!

Def

[jzmtl]

Don't forget the need for silicone for Hollywood. 

[sLaughterMed]

Don't forget the need for silicone for Hollywood. 

I feel that silicone is more important to the Los Angeles film industry than Hollywood....

[Grant Lamontagne]

Good point.  That's hardly an application that was feasible in the Bronze Age....


Def

[Gareth]

Without having watched the video yet I do wonder how we are defining "age".  Glass has been around for a couple of thousand years after-all.  While I don't deny the importance of glass and silicone in our everyday lives, surely we need to acknowledge the impact of plastics and other synthetic materials as being a defining material of our world.

Definitely need to watch the video.

[AimlessWanderer]

While it's obviously a promotional production, I'm not entirely sure who it's aimed at 

Without having watched the video yet I do wonder how we are defining "age".  Glass has been around for a couple of thousand years after-all.  While I don't deny the importance of glass and silicone in our everyday lives, surely we need to acknowledge the impact of plastics and other synthetic materials as being a defining material of our world.

Definitely need to watch the video.

Agreed!  We are advancing all manner of materials, not just glass. So the glass age tag line is just a marketing thing. I didn't see the second video, so maybe there's more clues as to the target audience and "message" in that one

[ironraven]

Without having watched the video yet I do wonder how we are defining "age".  Glass has been around for a couple of thousand years after-all.

As soon as I read that, I had the urge to try knapping the screen out of an smartphone. Just to see.