# “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic” - still true?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-sufficiently-advanced-technology-is-indistinguishable-from-magic-still-true/968030>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [July 15, 2022, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-sufficiently-advanced-technology-is-indistinguishable-from-magic-still-true/968030 "2022-07-15T22:31:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 36

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**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2022, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-sufficiently-advanced-technology-is-indistinguishable-from-magic-still-true/968030/36 "2022-07-16T16:07:43Z")

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> [@LSLGuy](#):
>
> I am recalling a thread in the last year-ish on the topic of a 2022-era fully working mobile phone falling into the hands of 1960s scientists and engineers and what they could (or not) do with it. I searched unsuccessfully or I’d cite it here. Anyone else able to help?

Was it [this](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-back-in-time-could-you-go-and-have-your-tech-reverse-engineered-or-at-least-spur-innovation/964321) one?

> [@](#):
>
> I was wondering what scientists and engineers in 1960 would make of my cell phone if I traveled back in time with it.
> 
> Would they be able to make head or tails of it? Would they be able to learn anything from it that would catapult the technology of the day?

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