I don't think you can compare generational innovation. These things are all relative. It's hard for me to believe that today's minds who are building a supercomputer that can reproduce human logic and understanding couldn't produce the Manhattan Project.

We aren't becoming more short-term focused, rather the future is shrinking. A 20 year time frame in past generations is now 3 years. In this day, if you have a long-term scope and vision you will become obsolete in five years. Adaptation is crucial to innovation as well.