UX Collective | Medium
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Supersonic dreams: how post-war France invented the future, and then stopped
France in the 1970s experienced a technological boom, known as the "Three Glorious Decades," where it pursued ambitious projects like Concorde, nuclear power, and Minitel. Concorde, a supersonic jet, symbolized French and British engineering prowess, offering unprecedented speed and luxury, though it ultimately succumbed to economic challenges and limited routes. France's rapid nuclear power build-up, driven by the 1970s oil crisis, established significant energy independence, despite encountering public protests over certain projects. The Minitel, a French precursor to the internet, provided widespread online services to millions of homes before the World Wide Web became dominant. These three ventures exemplify France's bold vision, substantial capital investment, and execution speed in technological innovation. Concorde became a luxury marvel but was economically unsustainable; nuclear power transformed into critical infrastructure, providing lasting energy security. Minitel, while pioneering, eventually became obsolete with the rise of the global internet. These diverse outcomes offer valuable insights into the success and failures of ambitious technological bets.