> What seems like a great shiny achievement now may be considered foolish or irrelevant in hindsight

The inverse holds true as well. The Romans invented a steam engine and used it to entertain random passers-by in the square with a wheel that can move in circles on its own.

As for the slowing of innovation. No. I am fairly positive the rate of innovation is increasing at an exponential rate just like it's always been.

But you have to look at the nascent tiny scientific breakthroughs to see the everyday technology we're going to lament as "Based on old innovations" thirty years from now.

I mean, what use is a shaky three-wheel car that can hardly go any faster than a walking human could? You'd be better off using a horse, what a stupid invention and utterly useless innovation.