Ruminations on Russia

Better or just different; Russian technology when it is better really is better - but that does not make it better in every sphere, or even in the spheres where it is deemed to be better. Solutions to physical technology problems that are interesting here tend to have approached long existing problems in an entirely different way from the West. Locally this is known as the Zhiguli-school of technology development. A little harsh maybe but pretty much close to the truth. (A Zhiguli is a Russian car based on a Fiat 125 that has an even worse reliability record than the original. Russian's have an initimate knwoledge of their cars in order to keep them running. Thus they have a habit of coming up with solutions born of habit that we in the West have forgotten as our lives get more comfortable.)

Russian technolgy solutions, orthe ones that work anyway, tend to approach issues in a more holistic way than their competitors in the West. They tend to understand what is required to make a complete solution and work on the many facets that could improve the end solution - rather than focusing on the one area where the most substantial gains could be found.