TED: The strange tale of the Norden bombsight | Malcolm Gladwell

The video discusses Carl Norden, a Swiss engineer who developed the Norden bombsight, a device intended to improve bombing accuracy during World War II. Despite its promise, the bombsight faced numerous challenges in real-world conditions, leading to limited success. The video draws parallels to modern technology, emphasizing the complexity of solving problems with inventions. It concludes with the irony of the bombsight's use in the Hiroshima bombing, highlighting the limitations of relying solely on technological solutions.

What was Carl Norden's primary motivation for creating the bombsight?

• To increase the speed of aircraft

• To enhance pilot training

• To improve bombing accuracy

• To reduce aircraft production costs

How much did the US military spend on developing the Norden bombsight?

• $500 million

• $10 billion

• $1.5 billion

• $3 billion

What was Carl Norden's belief about his invention?

• It was a way to dominate the skies

• It was an instrument of God's will

• It was a means to end all wars

• It was a tool for economic growth

What was a major limitation of the Norden bombsight during wartime?

• It was too lightweight

• It was easy for enemies to replicate

• It required perfect weather conditions

• It was too expensive to produce

What was the primary issue with the Norden bombsight's accuracy?

• It was too heavy for aircraft

• It required visual contact with the target

• It was not durable

• It was too complex to operate

What percentage of bombs dropped on the Leuna chemical plant actually landed within its perimeter?

• 25%

• 10%

• 50%

• 5%

What modern military technology is compared to the Norden bombsight in the transcript?

• Laser-guided missiles

• Stealth bombers

• Nuclear submarines

• Drones

What was the result of the US military's attempt to destroy Scud missile launchers in Iraq?

• They destroyed all the launchers

• They destroyed half of the launchers

• They destroyed a quarter of the launchers

• They destroyed none of the launchers

What was the outcome of using the Norden bombsight in the bombing of Hiroshima?

• The bomb was never dropped

• The bomb missed its target by 800 feet

• The bomb hit its target precisely

• The bomb was intercepted

What was the irony of the Norden bombsight's use in Hiroshima?

• It was used for a bomb that didn't need precision

• It was used to target military bases

• It was used to save lives

• It was not used at all