This was very strongly the feeling at this time. Even Feynman responded with good natured jesting to critics of small machines. Of course, a small automobile would only be useful for the mites to drive around in, and I suppose our Christian interests don't go that far. You will see there has been no progress in that respect. There is something special about this field of small mechanical systems.
Most advances represent a specific technology.
The Scanning Tunneling Microscope for example, gives us the ability to detect and perhaps manipulate atoms. High temperature superconductors hold the promise of efficient power transmission, and novel electronic circuits. The diesel engine gives us a source of mechanical power. Each of these is an important advance of a single thing. The field we are contemplating here today is vast beyond our normal concerns.