Could it be possible that we have reached the limit on progress?

Progress, does certainly seem to have become stagnant in a number of ways:

Medicine

There are still no cures for certain diseases. Two decades on and still no sign of any cure for HIV or innoculation from it and still no outright cure for all forms of cancer. Human life expectancy seems to have hit an upper limit.

Transport

We still continue to drive around in machines powered by igniting a highly flammable and explosive substance, and emitting noxious fumes in the process. The substance is not renewable and there are only finite reserves of it left. Is it not possible in this day and age to devise some more efficient method of transport?

This is the year 2004 but it could easily be mistaken for the 1970's. The progress these days seems to be on a more minature scale.

Perhaps we are failing to train and devlop the superior Engineers and Scientists needed to take us forward.

You are right about HIV and cancer in some ways, but there are breakthroughs in other areas of medicine-better machines for diagnosing cancer makes it easier to cure etc etc

My worry is that we are all losing sight of ourselves as people as our lives are ruled by more and more complicated technology. I don't advocate a return to having none, but it really scares me how often people seem to need to upgrade mobile phones/cars/DVD players. Then they break and cause us piles of stress.
Isn't it all just getting out of hand?

If your question is solely one of technological progress than the answer is no...progress is not static.

In the last century we have made unbelievable forward steps in scientific and tech knowledge. Remember that a century is a very small amount of time when we look at the longer span of the world's development. In recent decades tech continues to move forth in huge paces...for example look at the computer and the so-called information revolution, that is all within the last decade or so. Yes, maybe the internal combustion engine sucks but that doesn't mean we have become stagnant in innovation. In fact many alternatives to the internal combustion engine have been proposed over the last century but none have become economically viable, or popularly available for a variety of reasons.

Yes the computer is a classic example. The first ones were huge and have decreased in size. What other significant developments have there been in the last 30 years? I look out of the window and I reckon things don't look much different than they did in 70's. I certainly think that progress is now moving at a slower pace, but what is the reason why?

Originally posted by genesiscouch
...in fact many alternatives to the internal combustion engine have been proposed over the last century but none have become economically viable, or popularly available for a variety of reasons.

Or, they've been suppressed by governments and big business in the interests of protecting their oil revenue

That is a very convincing statement.

start reading http://www.newscientist.com every day.
You'll be amazed at the number of new techniques, drugs, ideas and technologies reported.

Maybe you're looking at some 'big' things, ie Cancer. We've only been studying it for what, 20 or 30 years. Is it that suprising that it's taken a little longer to figure out than say polio?

Internal combustion still rules the road, but there are alternatives, there are already commercially available hybrid vehicles, and there are many avenues of research in fuel cell, hydrogen and electrical storage vehicles.

Electronics has progressed an incredible amount in the last 30 years and continues to do so.

Life expectancy continues to increase as far as i'm aware.

Big things we've still got to crack
Disease (all of it)
Fusion (cold preferably)
Personal flying transport (I want a flying car)
And loads more.

Originally posted by mojoworking
Or, they've been suppressed by governments and big business in the interests of protecting their oil revenue

That would fall under "variety of reasons".

And no, you can't borrow my tin foil hat...I'm using it.