[tonyedgecombe]

Much of what we take for granted in the modern world looked utopian before it was available.

[_Codemonkeyism]

Not sure in which way e.g. the telephone or lightbulb looked utopian at the time. Most inventions had similar predecessors.

Perhaps you're thinking of social inventions like the social security nets in western Europe - I'm not as good in their history.