Nov 30 2011: Pick a project suited to the new tool and just *do* something. Most people learn best by doing. Have a simple, achievable goal and try to create a concrete final product. Maybe it will be a solution to a problem you or one of your friends has. Maybe it will be something you can sell.
Usually my barrier to using new technology is fear that it will take longer than "doing it the old way." So what? No matter how much effort it takes, the point is that you're learning.
Nov 30 2011: Three pieces of advice from an inventor/entrepreneur:
1) Everything has been done before. Do a lot of background research before investing time and energy into a new idea.
2) No one likes your ideas as much as you do. It's unlikely that anyone will ever directly and intentionally steal your ideas. And frankly, if you're looking to change the world (and not just get rich), who cares if your idea gets stolen?
3) Share, share, share. Ideas get better by passing them around. Usually only many, many hours of hard work and drudgery will produce good results from your ideas, so find as many people as you can to join you.
Nov 30 2011: This will always depend heavily on economics. Currently, I believe it costs about $10,000/pound to boost mass into orbit. Obviously, boosting to another planet will cost more (although I'm sure you'd try to mine moons/asteroids for much of your mass).
So, long before you see extraterrestrial colonization, you'll have to have space elevators and significant space industry.
I also suspect you'll see a lot of oceanic colonization long before space colonization. Ocean-top or underwater dwelling is *far* more hospitable and inexpensive than extraterrestrial living.
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A comment on Conversation: How can I incorporate new technology into my education?
Usually my barrier to using new technology is fear that it will take longer than "doing it the old way." So what? No matter how much effort it takes, the point is that you're learning.
A comment on Conversation: I have several ideas that could change the world. I'd like to share and develop them. What would be the platform? How to keep my ideas safe?
1) Everything has been done before. Do a lot of background research before investing time and energy into a new idea.
2) No one likes your ideas as much as you do. It's unlikely that anyone will ever directly and intentionally steal your ideas. And frankly, if you're looking to change the world (and not just get rich), who cares if your idea gets stolen?
3) Share, share, share. Ideas get better by passing them around. Usually only many, many hours of hard work and drudgery will produce good results from your ideas, so find as many people as you can to join you.
A comment on Conversation: Will we ever colonize on another planet?
So, long before you see extraterrestrial colonization, you'll have to have space elevators and significant space industry.
I also suspect you'll see a lot of oceanic colonization long before space colonization. Ocean-top or underwater dwelling is *far* more hospitable and inexpensive than extraterrestrial living.