The Computer

Invention: The Computer

The Computer has changed society greatly in how people get instant information on news, communicate with distant friends or family and learning about a wide variety of topics. From war to teaching, business and entertainment. This technology is used in everyday life by many people all over the world.

An invention that led up to the computer was the calculator. Made during World War II, the calculator would fill up an entire room. The purpose was to solve long math problems. A calculator would speed up the solving process and get the right answer.

The Train

Invention: The Train
Invented: before 1830
Nick named the "iron horse."

Fact: In America, the train helped the North to win the Civil War by transporting supplies.

The train has been a powerful influence in war, the Great Depression and business. During the Great Depression, many men and teenage boys hopped on the train to go searching for jobs to provide for their families. Traveling by train was very common in the 1930's.

With this transportation, goods and people can be transferred faster and farther. 

"America's first steam-powered railroad—the Baltimore & Ohio—opened in 1830, and within decades hundreds of thousands of railway miles crisscrossed the nation. Today, 182 years later, the descendants of those first railroads—including CSX Transportation—continue to play a key role in our lives, moving millions of carloads of freight each year" wrote the History Channel. 

Info from:
http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/8-things-you-may-not-know-about-trains

First Flight

First successful flight: by the Wright brothers
Date: Dec. 17, 1903
Flight time: 12 seconds
Distance: 120 feet
Location: Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

The History Channel claims that the Wright Brothers' fasination for flying was started in 1878 when their father gave them a toy. The object would fly through the air from being pulled back by a rubber band.

Years later on the historic day the Wright Brothers had done several more tests and set the record for flying time up to 59 seconds, 47 seconds longer than the first flight. Since the invention people are able to travel even farther and to different continents without taking a boat.

Photo from: https://www.google.com/search?q=first+flight&hl=en&rlz=1R2SKPT_enUS419&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=_ZFcUZ6fJIPVyQGX6IGACw&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAQ&biw=1129&bih=488#imgrc=0LySfeZ0T9_qaM%3A%3BrNeJ2AUvefBY0M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.nasa.gov%252Fimages%252Fcontent%252F206308main_image_976_946-710.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.nasa.gov%252Fmultimedia%252Fimagegallery%252Fimage_feature_976.html%3B946%3B710

The Television

Ever wonder what the first image of TV image looked like? After watching this video I can see how dramatically the television has changed from size and image. People were excited about this new invention even though it would be decades before the television came into homes.

The Wheel

   One of the most popular inventions that has been used for thousands of years is the wheel. It may be surprising that something so simple had to be invented, but it was. Wheels are commonly used for transportation and the making of pottery. They've helped decrease travel time and increase load amounts. People can travel father because of it. Other wheels have assisted with making beautifully round pottery like bowls and plates.

The Pay Phone

 

Modern Marvels (on the History Channel) give an excellent demonstration of how pay phones were used in the 1950's. Plus viewers get to see one of the earliest pay phones.

 Here is a question to think about. In the 1950's, a pay phone could not tell how much money was put in them, whether the coin be a dime, nickle or quarter. How did people connect long distance verse local if the pay phone couldn't tell the difference in money? Watch the short video to find out.

The Car

In the beginning of the 20th century cars started to become numerous.  The vehicles were more convient than horses because the owners did not have to worry about feeding or calling the vet like they do with animals. Cars, however, were expensive when they first came out.

Below is a link to the growth in the number of cars put out by the Ford Company. It gives an idea as to how popular cars were based on business.

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ford-builds-its-1-millionth-car

Also here is a video about the cars the Ford Company put out. I like the fact that you can see the models instead of just reading about them.

Video:
http://www.history.com/shows/modern-marvels/videos/car-invented-world-drastically-changed#car-invented-world-drastically-changed

Photo from: https://www.google.com/search?q=ford+car+1920&hl=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=GNRQUYWCOsKVygHIsYCoDQ&sqi=2&ved=0CDsQsAQ&biw=1110&bih=488#imgrc=0Ug6SIR_gyLtXM%3A%3B2VSNbcCbelLv8M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252F1.bp.blogspot.com%252F-fWC3_PTn0rw%252FTp53Z9T4BwI%252FAAAAAAAABXE%252FRq-kVRLkYRM%252Fs1600%252F1920_ford_model_t_coupe_1_cd_gallery.jpeg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Ffluentbeauty.blogspot.com%252F2011%252F10%252Ffashion-through-decades-1920s.html%3B576%3B352

The Radio

Invention: The Radio
Inventors: Gulieimo Marconi; Reginald Fessenden; Lee de Forest
Invented: Developed between 1899-1909.

The radio was not invented at one time, but was developed over time by several experimenters. The radio started as a wireless telegraph in 1899 when Irish-Italian Inventor, Guglieimo Marconi, wanted to send "Morse code messages without wires"(History.com). The purpose of the invention was to provide fast mobile communication service for corporate clients. The wireless telegraph was experimented with by other men in hopes of transmitting music. In 1906, Reginald Fessenden made a sophisticated radio transmitter, the high-frequency alternator, according to History.com. Not long after, between 1907 and 1909, Lee de Forest created the radio tube.

It wasn't until after World War I that the radio became popular. The number of radio stations increased from "30 in 1922 to 556 in 1923" according to History.com.  Do to the popularity of the radio, advertisers want to take part of this new media. "What made radio so attractive to advertisers was the formation of networks: NBC (National Broadcasting Company, 1926), CBS (Columbia Broadcasting System, 1927), and MBS (Mutual Broadcasting System, 1934) offered advertisers instant access to a national audience" (history.com). The 1920's became known as the Golden Age of the Radio.

Before the invention, people would receive their news through newspapers and word of mouth. They also read the paper for entertainment. When the radio started coming into homes, the culture changed. For the first time people could hear music (without having to play an instrument), listen to talk shows and speeches. By 1933, 2/3 of households in America had a radio (history.com).


Some of the most famous speeches over the radio were given by the United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt. These speeches were called fireside chats and used by the President to speak to the nation during America's two hardships, the Great Depression and World War II. The radio is now in cars and used a lot for music. Today, the radio provides news and music to people around the world.

 
Photo from: https://www.google.com/search?q=radio&hl=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=SsQ_UaSUHe2u2AW91YDoDQ&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1275&bih=561#hl=en&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=radio+1st&oq=radio+1st&gs_l=img.3..0i10i24l2j0i24.34992.43683.2.44909.10.9.1.0.0.0.220.1297.2j5j2.9.0...0.0...1c.1.5.img._T7Z5gjSxnU&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.43287494,d.b2I&fp=1154090080808b00&biw=1275&bih=561&imgrc=keW4IuQRvmxyuM%3A%3BJl6lcJHO4rbxVM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.xtimeline.com%252F__UserPic_Large%252F2092%252FELT200710030938049069686.PNG%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.xtimeline.com%252Fevt%252Fview.aspx%253Fid%253D31657%3B358%3B402

Info from:
http://www.history.com/topics/radio-and-television

The Zipper

Year Invented:1851
Inventor: Elias Howe
Perfector: Gideon Sundbach
Purpose: Easier to close clothing

Invention called:
 Automatic Continuous

Clothing Closure (1851)
Separable Fastener (1914)
Zipper (1920s)

In the 19th century people were use to lacing and buttoning up their clothing. Many buttons was time consuming to button and unbutton. Elias Howe decided to come up with an easier way to close clothing thus creating (what he called) the automatic continuous clothing closure.

In a video of Modern Marvels, the History Channel explains how the invention worked. "It closed fabric with a series of small clasps that joined when a string was pulled." Though Howe's invention worked, it was not a success due to it jamming often. He did, however, show his device at the World's Fair in Chicago of 1893.

Just 21 years after the World's Fair in 1914, the "zipper" was improved by Gideon Sunhbach (photo top right) a Swedish engineer. He doubled the number of teeth in each row (according to history.com) which perfected the invention. Gideon called it the separable fastener. Not long after Gideon added to the "zipper" it was adopted into the U.S. army in World War I. By the 1920s the zipper could be found on coats, bags and in the 1930s in fashion.

The word "zipper" came from the B.F. Goodrich company whom invented the name to sell their new product of a shoe with a zipper. Today the zipper is found on wet suits, bags and many fabrics of clothing.

Photo from: https://www.google.com/search?q=zipper+history&hl=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=9IUlUeu7J-Ks2wWIl4C4BA&sqi=2&ved=0CF8QsAQ&biw=1366&bih=640#hl=en&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=zipper+invented+history&oq=zipper+invented+history&gs_l=img.3...44374.45674.8.45933.8.8.0.0.0.0.62.416.8.8.0...0.0...1c.1.4.img.ecTQgy0kJuo&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bvm=bv.42661473,d.b2I&fp=b86255da6108f4d1&biw=1366&bih=640&imgrc=-SgR6FBa_8RGXM%3A%3B5nyHcCImH09dZM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.fashionchoice.org%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2012%252F04%252Fzipper-gideon-sundback-img-1-540x404.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.fashionchoice.org%252Fthe-bit-of-zipper-history%252Fzipper-gideon-sundback-img-1%252F%3B540%3B404

Info from: http://www.history.com/videos/modern-marvels-gadgets---zippers#modern-marvels-gadgets---zippers

The Light Bulb

First Commercial Use Invented In: 1879
First Commercial Use Invented by: Thomas Edison
Purpose: Provide light at night.

A hundred and forty years ago the only light after sunset came from candles, gas lamps and fires. Due to the little amount of light from the time's technology, people were limited as to what they could do at night.

Though gas lamps were helpful to see, they were a major fire hazard. Several men (in a century span) sought to find safer means of providing light after sunset, thus creating the light bulb.

 Many people believe that Thomas Edison is the inventor, but that is only part of the truth. Thomas Edison was the first person to invent a commercial use light bulb and therefore was given the credit of inventing the light bulb.

In 1802, the first electric light was invented by Humphry Davy according to bulbs.com. Since then scientists have been experimenting to improve this new technology. Thomas Edison made history Nov. 4th 1879 after trying "a carbon filament or strip coiled and connected ... to platina contact wires" (Bulbs.com). The first successful light bulb for commercial use has been made. 


The world dramatically changed after 1879. It effected the home, the workplace, cities, and entertainment. People can now finish chores at home, work the night shift, see the city lights or go to the movies.

 As great as Edison's success was, he achieved it with great difficulty. Some people might have thought Edison failed many times before he found the right material, but Edison replies "I have not failed, I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." Thanks to Edison people can now do last minute activities, enjoy late entertainment and travel at night.


Info from: http://www.history.com/topics/thomas-edison
                  http://www.bulbs.com/learning/history.aspx

Image from: https://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&q=first+radio&ei=4ME6VdTeDY6yogTS0IHoCg#tbm=isch&q=first+light+bulb&imgrc=rKf9XeKKvBwObM%253A%3BCHIo4d43foGBJM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fheckeranddecker.files.wordpress.com%252F2009%252F04%252Forig_first_edison_light_bulb.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fdmhome.info%252Ftag%252Fedisons-first-light-bulb%3B500%3B667