Wizarding Inventions

[darqali]

No: HPFGUIDX 143023

I am trying again in this thread, because *I* am attempting to point out what we can learn {and presume} about Wizard Inventions and Technology from canon, whilst those arguing I am wrong are citing pure real muggle history to say I am wrong.

I agree we don't see Wizard children walking around with the 
wizarding equilivant of ipods or walkmen; but I don't see how this 
leads to the conclusion Wizards "don't have" any similar devices.  
Please look at what we *do see*:

(1) The Pensive:  Here is a "Recording Device" which has functions 
similar to movie film {with sound} or video .... only better!  Yes, 
it is described as a recepticle of "thoughts" and/or "memories" of a 
given person.  Yet it allows *anyone* to experience *an enire moment* 
of time; and the "memory" to be "played" can be stored and re-played, 
even after the "person of origin" is dead.

A Wizarding Device using similar Wizard "technology" could be used to 
record/play any form of music, either audio only or visual as well as 
audio.  We don't know that Wizards *don't* have such devices; the use 
of the pensive {which *records* and then *plays back*} suggests they 
very well *may*.

Such wizard "technology* could clearly create similar entertainment 
to cinima or television, and could be used for education as well 
{think of what a more imaginative teacher than Prof. Binns could make 
of Pensive "technology" in History lessons}.

Not convinced?  Then consider:

(2)   Omnioculars!

Here is wizard technology which combines several concepts of 
"technology" we Muggles use:  Binoculars, of course; and  a video 
type recorder, with slow-motion and sub-titles; and a "Tivo" kind of 
ability to adjust from "real time" to past plays ..... With a 
comentary of on-going events built in, too!

And they don't even require batteries!  Wow!

My point is that we've seen these things in Potterverse *because the 
stories have brought us to points where they are naturally included 
and explained.*

JKR has had no need to explain what the Wizarding World uses in place 
of Walkmen or ipods.  Her story lines have not needed to tell us, but 
that is *no reason* to assume they don't exist.

For someone whose real life includes constant use of such things, 
perhaps it seems they "can't exist" in the Wizarding World because we 
don't see them.  But while I know what an i-pod is {sort of} I don't 
actually have one, and never will.  Nor  do I have a cell phone, nor 
any of hundreds of other devices I *know about*.  Those who do and 
can't imagine living without them constantly in use wonder about 
their *apparent* absence in JKR's writing.  I don't, because I 
expect JKR to tell us things that are important to flow of the story, 
and not include other irrelevant bits we can *assume* to be present 
in the WW. {I don't know what wizards use for a can opener, for 
example.  I use an old hand type, though I know there are electric 
models.  I expect wizards open cans sometimes, but don't wonder why 
we don't see what they use in place of an electric can opener because 
there is no need for JKR to tell us.}

The same is true for music forms, groups, and methods of 
distribution, ich *some* readers seem to be curiously *absent*.  Yet 
to me {a farmer in her sixth decade in a very rural area  on the 
plains of N America} the amount of music that appears in JKR's 
writing seems natural and "about right" to show the WW *does* have 
music, just as the Muggle world does.  Dumbledore's Chocolate Frog 
card includes his favorite form of music. He hums to himself. There 
is Wizard Wireless; Molly Weasely has a favorite singer, not 
appreciated by Fleur, who is of another generation {but Fluer sings 
the same song ...}.  There is live music at Nearly Headless Nick's 
death-day party; another form at the Yule Ball  {a group famous and 
appreciated by the "current generation" of the stories. There is a 
music box at Grimould Place.  Slughorn has his piano, and a 
gramophone .... and I may have missed some references.

Lack of reference to "wizard ipod equilivants" is not necessary to 
the stories, but that does not mean the WW does not have such.  And 
whatever they *do* have is probably superior, because it will work 
without batteries, and is likely multi-functionl {remembering the 
omnioculars}.

Finally, please remember all those little instruments in Dumbledore's 
office, whose functions we don't know ..... and may never know.  
Wizards have plenty of technology we know nothing of, and much of it 
is superior to our own.  JKR has told us about *some* of it; that 
which is *relevant* to the Harry Potter stories.  {I-pods have not 
been relevant, and so have been absent from cannon.  No reason to 
assume therefore they don't *exist* in the WW.}

darqali