Clocks are only one among a roll-call of instruments and appliances perfected by technical wizards over the centuries.

BBC: Inventing the basics

Certainly, at the high end of the market, China cannot equal India's supply of technical wizards with fluent English.

ECONOMIST: China's cup overflows; India catches the spillage

Vakoch admits that the typical SETI approach has been to suppose that long-lived extraterrestrial civilizations would also be far-ranging technical wizards.

FORBES: SETI's 'L Factor':? Will E.T. Actually Be Around Long Enough To Phone Home?