Invention of the Wheel
It's difficult to imagine our lives without any form of movement.
Wheels are one of the most ancient discoveries in all of humankind.
However, none of us question how the wheel was actually discovered?
Wheels have made it much easier for all of us to travel. The creation of the wheel is perhaps the most significant discovery. As soon as the wheel was invented, there was a revolt in the manufacturing industry.
The first inventor of the wheel remains unknown. What is known, is the fact that the first ever wheel was discovered approximately 3,000 years ago where weavers and potters were the first to utilise them.
The containers that were prepared by the potters were helpful for carrying the essentials; drinking water and nutritious food. There was yet another enhancement by utilising the wheels for moving on the vehicles. The advanced version of these same wheels are now being used by the cars which we use today, for our own convenience.
There was always a regular growth in the advancement of inventing new and innovative designs the wheel. The wheels that we now see in heavy vehicles were also invented during the early centuries, but the differences are huge. The initial designs were much simpler in comparison to the designs we see today.
Unlike other inventions that took place around 5000 B.C. or even earlier, wheels are still commonplace today and are still high in demand. Many contemporary discoveries are derived from the ancient and original wheel. It's clear that if there was no invention of the wheel, there would be no vehicles. Our roads would have been empty and aeroplanes would not have been able to take to the skies.
As result of the wheel, there has been great development in the field of industrialisation. The different manufacturing factories and companies are a productive outcome of wheels. If the wheel had been a relatively new invention, the inventor would have received worldwide acclaim. Although what we determine to be a simple idea, the concept at that time was truly groundbreaking and ingenius - a concept that has withstood the ultimate test of time.
Wheels have made it much easier for all of us to travel. The creation of the wheel is perhaps the most significant discovery. As soon as the wheel was invented, there was a revolt in the manufacturing industry.
The first inventor of the wheel remains unknown. What is known, is the fact that the first ever wheel was discovered approximately 3,000 years ago where weavers and potters were the first to utilise them.
The containers that were prepared by the potters were helpful for carrying the essentials; drinking water and nutritious food. There was yet another enhancement by utilising the wheels for moving on the vehicles. The advanced version of these same wheels are now being used by the cars which we use today, for our own convenience.
There was always a regular growth in the advancement of inventing new and innovative designs the wheel. The wheels that we now see in heavy vehicles were also invented during the early centuries, but the differences are huge. The initial designs were much simpler in comparison to the designs we see today.
Unlike other inventions that took place around 5000 B.C. or even earlier, wheels are still commonplace today and are still high in demand. Many contemporary discoveries are derived from the ancient and original wheel. It's clear that if there was no invention of the wheel, there would be no vehicles. Our roads would have been empty and aeroplanes would not have been able to take to the skies.
As result of the wheel, there has been great development in the field of industrialisation. The different manufacturing factories and companies are a productive outcome of wheels. If the wheel had been a relatively new invention, the inventor would have received worldwide acclaim. Although what we determine to be a simple idea, the concept at that time was truly groundbreaking and ingenius - a concept that has withstood the ultimate test of time.
Invention of the Automobile
The invention of the automobile can be traced back as far as 1769,
when one Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot, devised the very first concept - a
complex, three wheeled steam engine. The idea never really took off, as
it could not compete with horse powered transportation which were easier
to handle, faster, less expensive and more commercially viable.
Horses were at the heart of the transport industry, with every individual business relying on horses to pull their vehicles. The steam train was named the iron horse, the bicycle was named the poor man's horse and the trolley car was named the horseless carriage. Horsepower was used to define performance, and is still commonplace to this day.
James Watt adopted the term "horsepower" to express the pulling power of a steam train, which was calculated as 33,000 foot-pounds per minute based upon his experience in working with horses. The horse industry was immensely powerful and those looking to force the automobile through in its place would meet a lot of resistance from those companies turning over significant profits.
"The horse is here to stay but the automobile is only a novelty, a fad."
- President of Michigan Savings Bank, 1901
Cars had to become practical, to be simple to use, offer benefits over horses and be affordable, yet profitable. In 1807, Francois Isaac de Rivaz, a Swiss inventor, invented the very first internal combustion engine using hydrogen as fuel. This prompted a whole host of engineers to develop this idea further. Karl Benz created an internal combustion engine powered by gasoline in 1879. Daimler and Mayback, two successful German engineers, began producing automobiles in 1889, manufacturing thirty cars powered by a bi-cylinder, 1.5hp gas engine with four-speed transmission. Benz produced twenty five cars all powered by a four-stroke gas engine.
Both companies soon merged to become the Daimler-Benz Company, creating both Daimler and Mercedes Benz brands. The speed of these cars were more than a match for horses, but the ignition still sputtered as a result of the fuel used within the internal combustion engines. This problem was resolved over the next few years by using a lead additive.
Those against the introduction of automobiles warned the public of the dangers of cars, including air pollution and noise, which created an air of uncertainty. This resistance forced cars to be used on a separate roadway to that of horses. Those in favour of the car responded, by expressing problems with horses such as the amount of food and water they required, and also the quantities of manure they deposited behind. In the height of Summer, the smell and flies attracted were insufferable. Cars obviously didn't get hungry, tired or produce manure like their 4 legged competitors.
Henry Ford was an intelligent man who understood the process of commercialising inventions to turn a profit. He made it his mission to develop a car which could compete against horses in terms of affordability, competitiveness and profitability. His vision was for the car to progress along an assembly line, with worked staged at specific locations with specific tasks. This concept allowed one vehicle to be manufactured in as little as 90 minutes - seven times faster than rival manufacturers. A quick drying paint was used to keep up the speed of production but was only available in one colour - black.
Car components soon became universal, allowing parts to be interchangeable, therefore driving down costs of both manufacturing and repair work. Ford led automobiles to become affordable, profitable and competitive and the progression from horses to cars escalated - quickly becoming the number one transportation method in the world.
Horses were at the heart of the transport industry, with every individual business relying on horses to pull their vehicles. The steam train was named the iron horse, the bicycle was named the poor man's horse and the trolley car was named the horseless carriage. Horsepower was used to define performance, and is still commonplace to this day.
James Watt adopted the term "horsepower" to express the pulling power of a steam train, which was calculated as 33,000 foot-pounds per minute based upon his experience in working with horses. The horse industry was immensely powerful and those looking to force the automobile through in its place would meet a lot of resistance from those companies turning over significant profits.
"The horse is here to stay but the automobile is only a novelty, a fad."
- President of Michigan Savings Bank, 1901
Cars had to become practical, to be simple to use, offer benefits over horses and be affordable, yet profitable. In 1807, Francois Isaac de Rivaz, a Swiss inventor, invented the very first internal combustion engine using hydrogen as fuel. This prompted a whole host of engineers to develop this idea further. Karl Benz created an internal combustion engine powered by gasoline in 1879. Daimler and Mayback, two successful German engineers, began producing automobiles in 1889, manufacturing thirty cars powered by a bi-cylinder, 1.5hp gas engine with four-speed transmission. Benz produced twenty five cars all powered by a four-stroke gas engine.
Both companies soon merged to become the Daimler-Benz Company, creating both Daimler and Mercedes Benz brands. The speed of these cars were more than a match for horses, but the ignition still sputtered as a result of the fuel used within the internal combustion engines. This problem was resolved over the next few years by using a lead additive.
Those against the introduction of automobiles warned the public of the dangers of cars, including air pollution and noise, which created an air of uncertainty. This resistance forced cars to be used on a separate roadway to that of horses. Those in favour of the car responded, by expressing problems with horses such as the amount of food and water they required, and also the quantities of manure they deposited behind. In the height of Summer, the smell and flies attracted were insufferable. Cars obviously didn't get hungry, tired or produce manure like their 4 legged competitors.
Henry Ford was an intelligent man who understood the process of commercialising inventions to turn a profit. He made it his mission to develop a car which could compete against horses in terms of affordability, competitiveness and profitability. His vision was for the car to progress along an assembly line, with worked staged at specific locations with specific tasks. This concept allowed one vehicle to be manufactured in as little as 90 minutes - seven times faster than rival manufacturers. A quick drying paint was used to keep up the speed of production but was only available in one colour - black.
Car components soon became universal, allowing parts to be interchangeable, therefore driving down costs of both manufacturing and repair work. Ford led automobiles to become affordable, profitable and competitive and the progression from horses to cars escalated - quickly becoming the number one transportation method in the world.
Invention of the Steam Engine
The invention of the engine has played a major role in the
environment we live in today - surrounded by transport and industries
all reliant on an engine of some description. The engine we see today
is a progression of the steam engine, using the same principles, but
applied in a more developed manner in the modern world. Every single
engine works the same way - a conversion of burning fuel into kinetic
energy. It's near enough impossible to imagine a world without the
engine, so let's look at the history of the engine and how it has come
to the forefront of our industrialized world.
The first incarnations of the steam engine were wood-powered, before coal was discovered as a superior replacement, allowing the invention of the steam engine to be one of the most pivotal developments in decades. Most valued during the Industrial Revolution, the steam engine offered an increase in transportation speeds, and an obvious positive impact across industrial industries.
It is a well known fallacy that the lead inventor of the steam engine, James Watt, was inspired by watching the power of steam lifting off a kettle lid. In all truth, Watt was truly inspired when working on a Newcomen engine at the University of Glasgow, where he attempted to repair the engine in May, 1765. It's necessary to look at the engine variations leading up to this point, to properly understand the development of the steam engine.
Thomas Savery, an English inventor/engineer, developed a water pimp which utilized steam from a boiler to create its power. The idea itself was brilliant, but Savery could not really make the most out of it, allowing Thomas Newcomen, an English blacksmith to step in and improve things, in 1712.
Newcomen's contraption was most commonly used in coal mines to pump water - where steam was condensed in cylinders creating a fractional vacuum underneath the piston. Air pressure would naturally apply to the top of the piston, forcing it downwards in a regular motion.
James Watt then took over the reins, and the development of the steam engine really began to gather pace. The Scottish engineer noticed from Newcomen's design that a vast amount of heat energy was escaping from the mechanism heating the cylinders. Watt's vision was to use a completely separate condenser, connected to the cylinder via a simple valve, wherein the cylinder would be kept hot, yet the condenser would be kept cold. Watt patented his steam engine in 1769, though it was to be a few years before the engine became available.
As the years progressed, Watt made some alterations to his initial design, including insulation, oil lubrication and a gear system for controlling the motion of the piston. His reformed engine was introduced in 1783.
The steam engine had a dramatic impact all over the world. Setting aside the obvious improvements to transportation speeds, the engine also allowed factories freedom from the reliance on water power. Countries rich in coal began to reap the financial benefits attached - the UK using its own coal reserves to expand the British Empire in both the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Trains powered by steam engines proved highly advantageous during the industrialization period.
The steam engine invented by James Watt may, in the current day, look rather basic in comparison to modern day technology, but it was Watt's creation which produced the fundamentals for the engine's development through time.
The first incarnations of the steam engine were wood-powered, before coal was discovered as a superior replacement, allowing the invention of the steam engine to be one of the most pivotal developments in decades. Most valued during the Industrial Revolution, the steam engine offered an increase in transportation speeds, and an obvious positive impact across industrial industries.
It is a well known fallacy that the lead inventor of the steam engine, James Watt, was inspired by watching the power of steam lifting off a kettle lid. In all truth, Watt was truly inspired when working on a Newcomen engine at the University of Glasgow, where he attempted to repair the engine in May, 1765. It's necessary to look at the engine variations leading up to this point, to properly understand the development of the steam engine.
Thomas Savery, an English inventor/engineer, developed a water pimp which utilized steam from a boiler to create its power. The idea itself was brilliant, but Savery could not really make the most out of it, allowing Thomas Newcomen, an English blacksmith to step in and improve things, in 1712.
Newcomen's contraption was most commonly used in coal mines to pump water - where steam was condensed in cylinders creating a fractional vacuum underneath the piston. Air pressure would naturally apply to the top of the piston, forcing it downwards in a regular motion.
James Watt then took over the reins, and the development of the steam engine really began to gather pace. The Scottish engineer noticed from Newcomen's design that a vast amount of heat energy was escaping from the mechanism heating the cylinders. Watt's vision was to use a completely separate condenser, connected to the cylinder via a simple valve, wherein the cylinder would be kept hot, yet the condenser would be kept cold. Watt patented his steam engine in 1769, though it was to be a few years before the engine became available.
As the years progressed, Watt made some alterations to his initial design, including insulation, oil lubrication and a gear system for controlling the motion of the piston. His reformed engine was introduced in 1783.
The steam engine had a dramatic impact all over the world. Setting aside the obvious improvements to transportation speeds, the engine also allowed factories freedom from the reliance on water power. Countries rich in coal began to reap the financial benefits attached - the UK using its own coal reserves to expand the British Empire in both the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Trains powered by steam engines proved highly advantageous during the industrialization period.
The steam engine invented by James Watt may, in the current day, look rather basic in comparison to modern day technology, but it was Watt's creation which produced the fundamentals for the engine's development through time.
Invention of the Airplane
The discovery of the airplane accelerated development in the
transport industry. The time taken to travel greater distances has been
dramatically reduced, and places have become increasingly more
accessible.
Despite the Wright Brothers universally credited with the invention of the airplane, the emergence of the plane can be traced back an entire century before the brothers took to the sky. Sir George Cayley, born in Scarborough, in 1773, built his first model helicopter in 1796. In 1804, he successfully designed and manufactured a glider, before publishing three papers detailing the fundamental principles of aeronautics. It was within these papers that the ideas of thrust and lift were first explained.
The two people most commonly linked with the invention of the airplane are the Wright Brothers. Wilbur Wright was born on 16th April, 1867 while his brother, Orville, was born on 19th August, 1871. Both left education at an early stage to set up their own bicycle repair store. Otto Lilienthal, a German aviator, was a man who the Wright Brothers closely followed, keeping up to date with his research and experiments. Lilienthal died in a glider accident, which inspired the brothers to take matters into their own hands and continue their own research into aeronautics. This love of mechanics drove them to experiment with the principles of airplanes and flight, carrying out extensive tests for many years. One of these many tests focused on the wings. The brothers set about building a set of wings similar to that of a bird, albeit with a moveable rudder. This was known as "wing warping" and was the benchmark for their design. It was in 17th December, 1903, that the brothers unveiled their first ariplane, the first plane that had been capable of a controlled flight with no landing damage and a constant speed.
The brothers made it part of their research to photograph each prototype they tested, also persuading an attendant from a lifesaving station to capture Orville in flight. The "flying machine", as it was referred to at that point, rose to an altitude of 10 feet, travelled 120 feet and took just 12 seconds. Two further successfulflights
took place later that day prompting the brothers to contact their
father to tell him to get in touch with the press about their recent
flights. Unfortunately, many dismissed their claims, so Wilbur ventured
into Europe to spread the word. Their news was finally accepted, and
the brothers received worldwide fame for their work.
Despite the Wright Brothers universally credited with the invention of the airplane, the emergence of the plane can be traced back an entire century before the brothers took to the sky. Sir George Cayley, born in Scarborough, in 1773, built his first model helicopter in 1796. In 1804, he successfully designed and manufactured a glider, before publishing three papers detailing the fundamental principles of aeronautics. It was within these papers that the ideas of thrust and lift were first explained.
The two people most commonly linked with the invention of the airplane are the Wright Brothers. Wilbur Wright was born on 16th April, 1867 while his brother, Orville, was born on 19th August, 1871. Both left education at an early stage to set up their own bicycle repair store. Otto Lilienthal, a German aviator, was a man who the Wright Brothers closely followed, keeping up to date with his research and experiments. Lilienthal died in a glider accident, which inspired the brothers to take matters into their own hands and continue their own research into aeronautics. This love of mechanics drove them to experiment with the principles of airplanes and flight, carrying out extensive tests for many years. One of these many tests focused on the wings. The brothers set about building a set of wings similar to that of a bird, albeit with a moveable rudder. This was known as "wing warping" and was the benchmark for their design. It was in 17th December, 1903, that the brothers unveiled their first ariplane, the first plane that had been capable of a controlled flight with no landing damage and a constant speed.
The brothers made it part of their research to photograph each prototype they tested, also persuading an attendant from a lifesaving station to capture Orville in flight. The "flying machine", as it was referred to at that point, rose to an altitude of 10 feet, travelled 120 feet and took just 12 seconds. Two further successful
Invention of the Radio
The invention of the radio was a great achievement in terms of
communication between two positions. The inventors of the telephone and
telegraph had already introduced the technology of wire-to-wire
communication. Thus, the inventor of radio based his idea heavily on the
technology that existed in the telephone and telegraph.
This invention was no immediate, but staggered over a number of years. The discovery of radio waves actually provided the platform for the invention of the radio. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves that can carry information in the form of pictures, sound and other details. Therefore, the radio was based on a number of scientific findings.
In the 1800's, a physicist from Scotland had predicted radio waves. A German physicist then proved this theory by showing that radio waves are the same as light or heat waves. This allowed wireless technology to launch.
Nicola Tesla, a Serbian Scientist, designed the first radio in 1892. He also designed a Radio Controlled Robotic Boat using similar technologies.
Sir Oliver Lodge brought considerable improvement to the original design in the form of a coherer, a primitive form of radio signal detector. He is the first person to transmit a successful radio signal.
The invention of the radio is obviously a great milestone. It has enabled the news to be transmitted on a very broad basis. The way the news was conveyed on the radio was completely different from the conventional method of print in the daily newspaper.
The invention of the radio was a huge step in the field of technology. Since the time it was invented most of us have forgotten how useful a radio can prove to be even in the present world where computers and laptops have dominated. The sound that can be heard emitting from radio speakers is mainly attributed to the transmission of radio signals, known as a process called modulation. The modulation of electromagnetic waves transmit the signals at a low frequency.
The oscillating electromagnetic fields emit electromagnetic radiation. These radiated waves go through a process of modulation in regards to the frequency, amplitude and pulse width. The waves then transform into sound that are responsible for carrying information.
The invention of radio made it easy for any person hear the world news. The radio was the most widely used device, despite the popularity of both the telegraph and telephone, invented during the same period.
The invention of Audion, the first radio tube responsible for improving the clarity brought about a complete new generation of radio. This was a time when people could enjoy their favourite music on the radio.
The addition of digital radio has improved the quality of broadcast further, reducing interference and delivering a superior end product.
This invention was no immediate, but staggered over a number of years. The discovery of radio waves actually provided the platform for the invention of the radio. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves that can carry information in the form of pictures, sound and other details. Therefore, the radio was based on a number of scientific findings.
In the 1800's, a physicist from Scotland had predicted radio waves. A German physicist then proved this theory by showing that radio waves are the same as light or heat waves. This allowed wireless technology to launch.
Nicola Tesla, a Serbian Scientist, designed the first radio in 1892. He also designed a Radio Controlled Robotic Boat using similar technologies.
Sir Oliver Lodge brought considerable improvement to the original design in the form of a coherer, a primitive form of radio signal detector. He is the first person to transmit a successful radio signal.
The invention of the radio is obviously a great milestone. It has enabled the news to be transmitted on a very broad basis. The way the news was conveyed on the radio was completely different from the conventional method of print in the daily newspaper.
The invention of the radio was a huge step in the field of technology. Since the time it was invented most of us have forgotten how useful a radio can prove to be even in the present world where computers and laptops have dominated. The sound that can be heard emitting from radio speakers is mainly attributed to the transmission of radio signals, known as a process called modulation. The modulation of electromagnetic waves transmit the signals at a low frequency.
The oscillating electromagnetic fields emit electromagnetic radiation. These radiated waves go through a process of modulation in regards to the frequency, amplitude and pulse width. The waves then transform into sound that are responsible for carrying information.
The invention of radio made it easy for any person hear the world news. The radio was the most widely used device, despite the popularity of both the telegraph and telephone, invented during the same period.
The invention of Audion, the first radio tube responsible for improving the clarity brought about a complete new generation of radio. This was a time when people could enjoy their favourite music on the radio.
The addition of digital radio has improved the quality of broadcast further, reducing interference and delivering a superior end product.
Invention of the Computer
Personal computers are now commonplace in most homes throughout
the world, and are relied on heavily by both individuals and businesses.
The invention of the computer is relatively new, emerging into our
lives relatively late in the 20th century. The technology to build such
intricate and sophisticated systems was simply not available prior to
this, though advancements in microelectronics made the vision of a
computer a realistic one. The two innovations in electronics which
allowed for this were the integrated circuit, which was manufactured in
1959, and the microprocessor, which appeared in 1971. The integrated
circuit allowed the internal memory solutions to be shrunken down into
manageable components, whereas the microprocessor reduced the size of a
central processing unit down to a single chip.
The microprocessor revolutionised electronics as we know it, a small silicon chip which can process thousands of simultaneous calculations, and replace the need for thousands of independent transistors. Developed by Ted Hoff, in California, part of the Intel Corporation, the microprocessor opened up new opportunities for machines, as the processor itself was capable of handling large flows of data, performing logical calculations and almost behaving with intelligence.
The first desktop computer system was manufactured for person use in 1974, courtesy of Micro Instrumentation Telemetry Systems (MITS). The computer was termed Altair, and retailed for as little as $400. The popularity of the Altair soared to unimaginable heights, everyone appearing keen to sample this new machine. This sparked a whole host of computers being developed by other companies, or by young ambitious entrepreneurs. The first well known and reputable company to produce their own computer was Tandy Corporation, which launched its own model in 1977. This model proved a hit, and became the most popular of the computers on the market at that time for two main reasons. It included a keyboard, to improve input, and also included a cathode ray tube to provide a CTR monitor. It also allowed information to be stored on cassette tapes, and was also programmable.
A couple of engineers, Stephen Wozniack and Steven Jobs, then began their own business venture which would become known as Apple Computers. The pair manufactured the Apple I, which was a homemade microprocessor, from Jobs' parents' garage of all places. The Apple I was then marketed to the public and was later sold to electronics enthusiasts and hobbyists. This led to the creation of Apple Computer, Inc., and in April, 1977, the Apple II was launched, the world's first personal computer system. The system was designed exclusively by the Apple team and included a keyboard and most notably colour graphics. The Apple II retailed at $1290.
Apple introduced brand new features to its computer system, expandable memory, disk-drive systems, improved data storage, and the aforementioned colour graphics. Apple Computers became the fastest growing business in American business history, with rival companies being set up as a result of Apple's huge success.
1981 saw IBM introduce their model of microcomputer, generically named the IBM PC. The 16-bit microprocessor prompted cravings for faster and more powerful processors. In the middle of the 1980's, a few more improvements were introduced to the computer world. 32-bit computers were revealed, which allowed for enough power to prove beneficial in a small to medium business environment.
User friendliness was targeted as key for most computer users, and the development or a Graphical User Interface certainly epitomised this. The GUI, replaced the requirement of entering complex commands, and brought in a much simpler 'point and click' strategy. Douglas Engelbart created an "X-Y Position Indicator for a Display System": which effectively became the "mouse", which has obviously has remained a standard with modern day PC's. Voice recognition software now exists to rival mouse input, and computer technology continues to grow at earth shattering speeds, which opens up exciting ideas for the not so distant future of computers.
The invention of the computer was clearly one of the most revolutionary inventions ever to grace the business world.
The microprocessor revolutionised electronics as we know it, a small silicon chip which can process thousands of simultaneous calculations, and replace the need for thousands of independent transistors. Developed by Ted Hoff, in California, part of the Intel Corporation, the microprocessor opened up new opportunities for machines, as the processor itself was capable of handling large flows of data, performing logical calculations and almost behaving with intelligence.
The first desktop computer system was manufactured for person use in 1974, courtesy of Micro Instrumentation Telemetry Systems (MITS). The computer was termed Altair, and retailed for as little as $400. The popularity of the Altair soared to unimaginable heights, everyone appearing keen to sample this new machine. This sparked a whole host of computers being developed by other companies, or by young ambitious entrepreneurs. The first well known and reputable company to produce their own computer was Tandy Corporation, which launched its own model in 1977. This model proved a hit, and became the most popular of the computers on the market at that time for two main reasons. It included a keyboard, to improve input, and also included a cathode ray tube to provide a CTR monitor. It also allowed information to be stored on cassette tapes, and was also programmable.
A couple of engineers, Stephen Wozniack and Steven Jobs, then began their own business venture which would become known as Apple Computers. The pair manufactured the Apple I, which was a homemade microprocessor, from Jobs' parents' garage of all places. The Apple I was then marketed to the public and was later sold to electronics enthusiasts and hobbyists. This led to the creation of Apple Computer, Inc., and in April, 1977, the Apple II was launched, the world's first personal computer system. The system was designed exclusively by the Apple team and included a keyboard and most notably colour graphics. The Apple II retailed at $1290.
Apple introduced brand new features to its computer system, expandable memory, disk-drive systems, improved data storage, and the aforementioned colour graphics. Apple Computers became the fastest growing business in American business history, with rival companies being set up as a result of Apple's huge success.
1981 saw IBM introduce their model of microcomputer, generically named the IBM PC. The 16-bit microprocessor prompted cravings for faster and more powerful processors. In the middle of the 1980's, a few more improvements were introduced to the computer world. 32-bit computers were revealed, which allowed for enough power to prove beneficial in a small to medium business environment.
User friendliness was targeted as key for most computer users, and the development or a Graphical User Interface certainly epitomised this. The GUI, replaced the requirement of entering complex commands, and brought in a much simpler 'point and click' strategy. Douglas Engelbart created an "X-Y Position Indicator for a Display System": which effectively became the "mouse", which has obviously has remained a standard with modern day PC's. Voice recognition software now exists to rival mouse input, and computer technology continues to grow at earth shattering speeds, which opens up exciting ideas for the not so distant future of computers.
The invention of the computer was clearly one of the most revolutionary inventions ever to grace the business world.
Invention of the Light Bulb
The very first electric light was invented as early as 1800 by
English inventor, Humphry Davy. Through various experimentations with
electricity, he invented a basic electric battery, soon followed by
electric light once he realised that carbon glowed, producing light when
connected to the battery. This reaction is called an electric arc.
In 1860, Sir Joseph Wilson Swan set about attempting to develop a practical, long-lasting form of electric light. It was he who realised that carbon paper filament worked well, however did burn up relatively quickly. In 1878, his new lamp inventions were showcased in Newcastle, England.
1877 saw American Charles Francis Brush develop a series of carbon arcs in order to illuminate a public square in Ohio, USA. A few streets, some large office buildings and some stores all utilised electric lights, but the extent of usage was not at all common.
Typically credited as the 'inventor of the light bulb', Thomas Alva Edison experimented with thousands upon thousands of alternative filaments to find the best material for a long-lasting, high glow solution. 1879 was the year Edison finally realised that a carbon filament within an oxygen-free bulb glowed, but would not burn up for approximately 40 hours. Later, Edison invented a bulb that would not expire for over 1500 hours.
Lewis Howard Latimer improved upon Edison's bulb with a new carbon filament which he patented in 1881. Latimer was part of Edison's research team, termed "Edison's Pioneers", and in 1882 began to manufacture and distribute his own carbon filaments.
At the turn of the century, in 1903, Willis R. Whitney introduced a 'fix' to the light bulb, so that the inside of the bulb would not darken as the filament began to glow, thus producing more vivid and bright light. William David Coolidge then invented a tungsten version of the traditional filament, which lasted longer than any other filament. This incandescent light bulb revolutionised the way in which we live today.
In 1860, Sir Joseph Wilson Swan set about attempting to develop a practical, long-lasting form of electric light. It was he who realised that carbon paper filament worked well, however did burn up relatively quickly. In 1878, his new lamp inventions were showcased in Newcastle, England.
1877 saw American Charles Francis Brush develop a series of carbon arcs in order to illuminate a public square in Ohio, USA. A few streets, some large office buildings and some stores all utilised electric lights, but the extent of usage was not at all common.
Typically credited as the 'inventor of the light bulb', Thomas Alva Edison experimented with thousands upon thousands of alternative filaments to find the best material for a long-lasting, high glow solution. 1879 was the year Edison finally realised that a carbon filament within an oxygen-free bulb glowed, but would not burn up for approximately 40 hours. Later, Edison invented a bulb that would not expire for over 1500 hours.
Lewis Howard Latimer improved upon Edison's bulb with a new carbon filament which he patented in 1881. Latimer was part of Edison's research team, termed "Edison's Pioneers", and in 1882 began to manufacture and distribute his own carbon filaments.
At the turn of the century, in 1903, Willis R. Whitney introduced a 'fix' to the light bulb, so that the inside of the bulb would not darken as the filament began to glow, thus producing more vivid and bright light. William David Coolidge then invented a tungsten version of the traditional filament, which lasted longer than any other filament. This incandescent light bulb revolutionised the way in which we live today.
Invention of the Internet
The Internet is something which many of us now take for granted,
but the invention of the Internet, is still recent. The Internet is
essentially a network connecting thousands of smaller networks into a
single global network. The Internet model and the Transmission Control
Protocols used to implement the idea were developed in 1973 by Vinton
Cerf, an American computer scientist. His project was backed by the
United States Department of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
(ARPA), directed by Robert Khan, an American engineer.
The Internet initially was used to connect University networks and research labs within the United States. The World Wide Web, as we now know it, was developed in 1989 by Timothy Berners-Lee, an English scientist, for the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN).
"The design of the Internet was done in 1973 and published in 1974. There ensued about 10 years of hard work, resulting in the roll out of Internet in 1983. Prior to that, a number of demonstrations were made of the technology - such as the first three-network interconnection demonstrated in November 1977 linking SATNET, PRNET and ARPANET in a path leading from Menlo Park, CA to University College London and back to USC/ISI in Marina del Rey, CA." . - Vinton Cerf
The Internet is better described as an interconnection of various computer networks which enable each connected machine to communicate directly. Smaller Internets exist, called Intranets, which are typically used within a single organisation.
The Internet grew to phenomenal levels over a short period of time. In 1996, more than 25 million computers had been connected to the Internet across 180 different countries.
The Internet makes use of gateways to connect separate networks to a single network. Gateway interconnections are established across telephone lines, optical fibres and radio links. New networks can be added by welcoming new gateways into the network. Data sent from one machine is tagged, using a unique address which identifies that particular machine, and to ensure the information is sent to the correct destination.
Addressing is crucial to the success of the Internet and commonly uses the dotted decimal approach, for example 168.124.1.0. This address is often associated with a web address, with the numeric address and the URL paired up in an addressing table, to eradicate the need to remember number strings. Once data is sent from one machine, the data travels from gateway to gateway until it reaches the network belonging to the destination machine. The Internet has no central repository, and therefore is unique in its methodology.
The Internet Protocol is a key element to a successful Internet. The Internet Protocol determines how a gateway receives a request and what to do with that request once received. The Transmission Control Protocol then verifies that the information has been sent and received successfully, allowing the data to be re-sent if an error occurs during transmission.
The Internet has changed our world bringing a wealth of information to our fingertips. The sharing of information has accelerated with the introduction of the Internet, with new, fresh content accessible second after second. More applications are being introduced to the Internet, and with the rising popularity of Internet enabled phones, the Internet will only continue to grow at a tremendous rate opening up thousands more opportunities to all of us. The invention of the Internet is indeed, one of the most recent revolutionary inventions which have been a major success and welcome addition to our world.
The Internet initially was used to connect University networks and research labs within the United States. The World Wide Web, as we now know it, was developed in 1989 by Timothy Berners-Lee, an English scientist, for the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN).
"The design of the Internet was done in 1973 and published in 1974. There ensued about 10 years of hard work, resulting in the roll out of Internet in 1983. Prior to that, a number of demonstrations were made of the technology - such as the first three-network interconnection demonstrated in November 1977 linking SATNET, PRNET and ARPANET in a path leading from Menlo Park, CA to University College London and back to USC/ISI in Marina del Rey, CA." . - Vinton Cerf
The Internet is better described as an interconnection of various computer networks which enable each connected machine to communicate directly. Smaller Internets exist, called Intranets, which are typically used within a single organisation.
The Internet grew to phenomenal levels over a short period of time. In 1996, more than 25 million computers had been connected to the Internet across 180 different countries.
The Internet makes use of gateways to connect separate networks to a single network. Gateway interconnections are established across telephone lines, optical fibres and radio links. New networks can be added by welcoming new gateways into the network. Data sent from one machine is tagged, using a unique address which identifies that particular machine, and to ensure the information is sent to the correct destination.
Addressing is crucial to the success of the Internet and commonly uses the dotted decimal approach, for example 168.124.1.0. This address is often associated with a web address, with the numeric address and the URL paired up in an addressing table, to eradicate the need to remember number strings. Once data is sent from one machine, the data travels from gateway to gateway until it reaches the network belonging to the destination machine. The Internet has no central repository, and therefore is unique in its methodology.
The Internet Protocol is a key element to a successful Internet. The Internet Protocol determines how a gateway receives a request and what to do with that request once received. The Transmission Control Protocol then verifies that the information has been sent and received successfully, allowing the data to be re-sent if an error occurs during transmission.
The Internet has changed our world bringing a wealth of information to our fingertips. The sharing of information has accelerated with the introduction of the Internet, with new, fresh content accessible second after second. More applications are being introduced to the Internet, and with the rising popularity of Internet enabled phones, the Internet will only continue to grow at a tremendous rate opening up thousands more opportunities to all of us. The invention of the Internet is indeed, one of the most recent revolutionary inventions which have been a major success and welcome addition to our world.
Invention of the Printing Press
The invention of the printing press took place in approximately
1450 AD, by a German inventor by the name of Johannes Gutenburg. During
this time, there were many cultural changes in Europe which sparked the
requirement of a quick, inexpensive method of producing large amounts
of documents. Gutenberg received investment from banks and local business in order to work on a viable solution.
Gutenberg's original concept remained relatively unchanged until the 19th century. In the early 1800's, the advancements in technologies meant that the printing press had to be amended to cope with the modern world and growing demand. Iron materials replaced wooden materials for printing, which added to the efficiency of the invention of the printing press.
In 1884, Linotype was introduced, a way in which a machine produces movable type, as opposed to hand versions, which greatly improved productions speeds. Prior to this advancement, each letter had to be applied to an iron tray, an extremely slow and laborious process. This update again kept the printing press modern, and the efficiency at the highest possible level.
The invention of the printing press relied heavily on Chinese paper merchants. The Chinese have a long history of knowing the best ways to create paper, thought to precede Egyptians. The Chinese had also begun experimenting with inks, movable clay, and block printing long before Gutenberg embarked on his own invention. Gutenberg basically took all the assets of the Chinese invention and applied them to a more sophisticated machine.
The printing press functions as follows. Initially, each and every letter of the alphabet was carved into a steel punch, which was subsequently hammered onto a piece of copper, known as a blank. This copper was then inserted into a mould, and an alloy consisting of lead, bismuth and antimony was poured inside. This alloy cools very quickly, allowing the reverse image of any letter to be handled within minutes. Each letter were pieced together, and arranged within a frame. Once this stage was reached, the printer could press, ink and print them as many times as necessary. As you can imagine this was a relatively slow process, so was reserved for books and newspapers which were high in demand.
Without the invention of the printing press, both the cultural and industrial revolutions would not have taken place. The printing press also redefined the operations within the church. The bible was published in an array of different languages for the first time, leading to a reduced number of church followers. Many began questioning the authenticity of the church, since there was no mention in the bible of a requirement to pay church taxes, which existed at the time.
The broadcasting of words and ideas began to spread much more quickly and more widespread with the invention of the printing press. The availability of books and documents also increased. The invention of the printing press allowed ideas and documents to reach wider audiences, and improve the sharing of information and literature, on a global scale.
Gutenberg's original concept remained relatively unchanged until the 19th century. In the early 1800's, the advancements in technologies meant that the printing press had to be amended to cope with the modern world and growing demand. Iron materials replaced wooden materials for printing, which added to the efficiency of the invention of the printing press.
In 1884, Linotype was introduced, a way in which a machine produces movable type, as opposed to hand versions, which greatly improved productions speeds. Prior to this advancement, each letter had to be applied to an iron tray, an extremely slow and laborious process. This update again kept the printing press modern, and the efficiency at the highest possible level.
The invention of the printing press relied heavily on Chinese paper merchants. The Chinese have a long history of knowing the best ways to create paper, thought to precede Egyptians. The Chinese had also begun experimenting with inks, movable clay, and block printing long before Gutenberg embarked on his own invention. Gutenberg basically took all the assets of the Chinese invention and applied them to a more sophisticated machine.
The printing press functions as follows. Initially, each and every letter of the alphabet was carved into a steel punch, which was subsequently hammered onto a piece of copper, known as a blank. This copper was then inserted into a mould, and an alloy consisting of lead, bismuth and antimony was poured inside. This alloy cools very quickly, allowing the reverse image of any letter to be handled within minutes. Each letter were pieced together, and arranged within a frame. Once this stage was reached, the printer could press, ink and print them as many times as necessary. As you can imagine this was a relatively slow process, so was reserved for books and newspapers which were high in demand.
Without the invention of the printing press, both the cultural and industrial revolutions would not have taken place. The printing press also redefined the operations within the church. The bible was published in an array of different languages for the first time, leading to a reduced number of church followers. Many began questioning the authenticity of the church, since there was no mention in the bible of a requirement to pay church taxes, which existed at the time.
The broadcasting of words and ideas began to spread much more quickly and more widespread with the invention of the printing press. The availability of books and documents also increased. The invention of the printing press allowed ideas and documents to reach wider audiences, and improve the sharing of information and literature, on a global scale.
Invention of the Camera
A camera is a device which enables the recording of still and
moving photographs within seconds. Without the camera, it was not
possible to capture and preserve good memories.
The camera was first designed by Joseph N. Niepce, a retired French Military Officer. He invented his first camera in 1826 in France. This camera was known as "Obscura", comprising of two wooden boxes out of which one box had a lens and the other had a screen, which was green in colour. He then invented a diaphragm, which helped in the clarity by sharpening the image.
The first discovery of the camera was made by a German Mathematician, Friedrich Risner. As there were more and more developments in the technology of the camera, this led to improvement in the quality of pictures, film, flash and colour pictures. With all these improvements and the developments in the camera, today we are able to see our past in our present.
Alhazen invented the first Pinhole Camera, also known as "Camera Obscura". It made people aware of the true reason as to why the image was often upside down. Joseph N. Niepce made the first photographic image. Joseph's main idea was to capture the image by making the light draw the
The camera was first designed by Joseph N. Niepce, a retired French Military Officer. He invented his first camera in 1826 in France. This camera was known as "Obscura", comprising of two wooden boxes out of which one box had a lens and the other had a screen, which was green in colour. He then invented a diaphragm, which helped in the clarity by sharpening the image.
The first discovery of the camera was made by a German Mathematician, Friedrich Risner. As there were more and more developments in the technology of the camera, this led to improvement in the quality of pictures, film, flash and colour pictures. With all these improvements and the developments in the camera, today we are able to see our past in our present.
Alhazen invented the first Pinhole Camera, also known as "Camera Obscura". It made people aware of the true reason as to why the image was often upside down. Joseph N. Niepce made the first photographic image. Joseph's main idea was to capture the image by making the light draw the
picture.
With many inventors, there was a development of modern photography. In 1829, it was Louis Daguerre, who in partnership with Joseph N. Niepce, made a major improvement in photography. However, soon after the death of Joseph N. Niepce, Louis took over the charge to develop photography, which was named after him as the daguerreotype. He, together with the son of Niepce, sold the rights to the government of France. He quickly gained wide popularity and subsequently, there were as many as seventy photo studios developed in the city ofNew York .
Wet Plates Negatives
In the era of 1800, centaury wet plates negatives came into existence. Solutions of collodion were used. A wet plate was created by using a silver salt, which was coated over the glass. It is called a negative wet plate. There was just one disadvantage of the wet plate; the images were made to be developed before the emulsion could dry up.
Dry Plate Negatives
Here, instead of a solution, a dried solution of gelatin was spread over the dry plate. It was much easier to store these plates for a considerable period, as it did so without drying up. These plates had a capacity to absorb light rapidly, which is evident in today's cameras.
Colour Photographs
In the 1940's, films were created using three dye layers that combined to form a colour image. In addition, a modern process was used to create colour photograph's using dye colours.
With many inventors, there was a development of modern photography. In 1829, it was Louis Daguerre, who in partnership with Joseph N. Niepce, made a major improvement in photography. However, soon after the death of Joseph N. Niepce, Louis took over the charge to develop photography, which was named after him as the daguerreotype. He, together with the son of Niepce, sold the rights to the government of France. He quickly gained wide popularity and subsequently, there were as many as seventy photo studios developed in the city of
Wet Plates Negatives
In the era of 1800, centaury wet plates negatives came into existence. Solutions of collodion were used. A wet plate was created by using a silver salt, which was coated over the glass. It is called a negative wet plate. There was just one disadvantage of the wet plate; the images were made to be developed before the emulsion could dry up.
Dry Plate Negatives
Here, instead of a solution, a dried solution of gelatin was spread over the dry plate. It was much easier to store these plates for a considerable period, as it did so without drying up. These plates had a capacity to absorb light rapidly, which is evident in today's cameras.
Colour Photographs
In the 1940's, films were created using three dye layers that combined to form a colour image. In addition, a modern process was used to create colour photograph's using dye colours.
Invention of the Barcode
Perhaps one of the most under rated inventions belongs to the
barcode. Barcodes aren't given much thought by the majority of
consumers, but these codes were fairly recently implemented, in a
working fashion, in 1970.
A small food store owner decided one day that keeping records of the inventory of his stock and their associated prices was an extremely laborious process and so, in 1948, he took it upon himself to contact The Drexel Institute of Technology in a bid to work towards a feasible solution. Bernard Silver rose to the challenge and set out to investigate this problem, and began working on a solution involving an automatic way of keeping track of items which had been sold. Bernard Silver and a group of students from the institute realised their answer in the form of ultraviolet rays, ink and a scanner.
The system did work initially, but possessed two major negatives. The system was incredibly costly making implementation on a large scale much more economically draining and the system was also notorious as being unstable. If the invention was to become commonplace in grocery stores, these two problems had to be ironed out to provide a more viable solution.
The patent for the bar code system was filed by Silver and one of his students, Woodland. The patent was not granted immediately; in fact it took three years for the patent agency to grant their invention patent for the bar code, occurring on 7th October, 1952. The invention of the barcode is patent number 2,612,994, Classifying Apparatus and Method, the official title of the patent.
Despite this patent being issued, the system was still not welcomed by the majority of store owners. It wasn't until 1966, that the system began creeping its way into more and more grocery stores. This system was soon criticised, as there was no central mechanism for controlling uniformly coded items. In 1970, Logicorn developed Universal Grocery Products Identification code (UGPIC), soon shortened to Universal Identification Number (UPC). It was Marsh's superstore in Troy, which was the very first store to install this sophisticated barcode reading system and its popularity has soared ever since, obviously now commonplace in all types of stores worldwide.
The first product to have ever been added to the barcode system was a pack of Wrigley's chewing gum.
The invention of the bar code may not appear as complex, ground breaking, or as revolutionary as many other inventions, but few have been as understated, yet so effectively time-saving, efficient and manageable.
A small food store owner decided one day that keeping records of the inventory of his stock and their associated prices was an extremely laborious process and so, in 1948, he took it upon himself to contact The Drexel Institute of Technology in a bid to work towards a feasible solution. Bernard Silver rose to the challenge and set out to investigate this problem, and began working on a solution involving an automatic way of keeping track of items which had been sold. Bernard Silver and a group of students from the institute realised their answer in the form of ultraviolet rays, ink and a scanner.
The system did work initially, but possessed two major negatives. The system was incredibly costly making implementation on a large scale much more economically draining and the system was also notorious as being unstable. If the invention was to become commonplace in grocery stores, these two problems had to be ironed out to provide a more viable solution.
The patent for the bar code system was filed by Silver and one of his students, Woodland. The patent was not granted immediately; in fact it took three years for the patent agency to grant their invention patent for the bar code, occurring on 7th October, 1952. The invention of the barcode is patent number 2,612,994, Classifying Apparatus and Method, the official title of the patent.
Despite this patent being issued, the system was still not welcomed by the majority of store owners. It wasn't until 1966, that the system began creeping its way into more and more grocery stores. This system was soon criticised, as there was no central mechanism for controlling uniformly coded items. In 1970, Logicorn developed Universal Grocery Products Identification code (UGPIC), soon shortened to Universal Identification Number (UPC). It was Marsh's superstore in Troy, which was the very first store to install this sophisticated barcode reading system and its popularity has soared ever since, obviously now commonplace in all types of stores worldwide.
The first product to have ever been added to the barcode system was a pack of Wrigley's chewing gum.
The invention of the bar code may not appear as complex, ground breaking, or as revolutionary as many other inventions, but few have been as understated, yet so effectively time-saving, efficient and manageable.
Invention of the Television Set
The televison set was invented by not one person
but a group of numerous personnel. The principal idea was based on
photoconductivity of the element selenium, founded by Willoughby Smith
in 1873. All televisions make use of an image which is scanned to
produce a representation time signal, which is then reversed and decoded
by the human eye.
On 26 January 1926, John Logie Baird demonstrated the first public television, which transmitted live moving images. Several months later, 3 July 1928, Baird demonstrated the first colour television. In 1923, Charles Francis Jenkin demonstrated his own version of a primitive television set.
Strangely enough, colour televisions were patented before black and white televisions were even fully functional. The reason being the fact that inventors knew this was possible and each wanted to claim the idea as their own.
Camarena invented the "Chromoscopic adapter for television equipment", which was a basic transmission mechanism for colour television. It was he who received the patent for colour televisions initially in September 15, 1942 adapted in 1960 and further in 1962.
Exclusively electronic systems relied on research by both Philo Taylor Farnsworth and Vladimir Zworykin, in order to mass distribute television programming evident in the modern world.
The first regular transmissions originated in Germany, 1935, using 180 scan lines to deliver the picture. 2 years later these lines increased to 441 in an effort to improve quality.
The first launch outwith Germany was England, 1936, from Alexandria Place. Baird's system was established but only spanned 4 months, since it contained 240 lines, whereas its successor EMI-Marconi's System A contained 405 lines and delivered a greater quality of picture.
It took almost 20 years for the television to be commonplace in an American household, as in the mid 1950's programming was typical in the majority of homes across the world.
On 26 January 1926, John Logie Baird demonstrated the first public television, which transmitted live moving images. Several months later, 3 July 1928, Baird demonstrated the first colour television. In 1923, Charles Francis Jenkin demonstrated his own version of a primitive television set.
Strangely enough, colour televisions were patented before black and white televisions were even fully functional. The reason being the fact that inventors knew this was possible and each wanted to claim the idea as their own.
Camarena invented the "Chromoscopic adapter for television equipment", which was a basic transmission mechanism for colour television. It was he who received the patent for colour televisions initially in September 15, 1942 adapted in 1960 and further in 1962.
Exclusively electronic systems relied on research by both Philo Taylor Farnsworth and Vladimir Zworykin, in order to mass distribute television programming evident in the modern world.
The first regular transmissions originated in Germany, 1935, using 180 scan lines to deliver the picture. 2 years later these lines increased to 441 in an effort to improve quality.
The first launch outwith Germany was England, 1936, from Alexandria Place. Baird's system was established but only spanned 4 months, since it contained 240 lines, whereas its successor EMI-Marconi's System A contained 405 lines and delivered a greater quality of picture.
It took almost 20 years for the television to be commonplace in an American household, as in the mid 1950's programming was typical in the majority of homes across the world.
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