We have become obsessed with the extreme. To be interesting, a tech­nology must be the fastest, the smallest, the biggest, the thinnest, the highest precision, or the lowest tolerance. We often invest immense resources in achieving these extremes. And while such work is essential to the progress of science and technology, its high cost has the unfortunate result that only a tiny fraction of the world can participate in it or benefit from the results.

When focusing purely on research goals, it is all too easy to overlook opportunities for reducing cost or eliminating complexity, because pursuing them might lower performance. But simple ideas that trade a bit of performance for a substantial saving in cost can have surprising and often powerful results both scientifically and socially. Finding ways to put new capabilities within the reach of thousands--or millions--more people than was previously possible creates change on an immeasurable scale. Even beyond the direct bene­fits of usage are the indirect consequences of giving ­people power they never thought they would have. More people means more ideas--always a good thing in science. People become inspired. They become excited about exploring the potential of their new abilities. They choose to participate, to contribute, to create, to share with those who are like themselves.