time travel

I can't help but notice that the concept of time travel in popular culture didn't emerge until after the industrial revolution - until a point in time where the progress of technology was occurring at such a rate that people were able to perceive that change within their lifetimes.

But clearly change alone wasn't enough to introduce this concept. Social and political changes were always present in the world of mankind, and at any point in time where must have always been a number of people thinking to themselves, "If only I had done this instead" etc.

The concept of time travel only came about and truly sparked the imagination of the public when we reached an era where constant change was apparent AND the technology of the time was just beginning to reach a point where the average individual 1) could see a piece of technology and understand what its function was, but have no clue how it achieved that end, and 2) was beginning to take that technology's presence for granted.

I wonder what amazing circumstances are occurring just now that will lead to thoughts and ideas beyond our current imaginations.