Great Modern Inventions That Changed The World
The Electric Dynamo – 1831
Faraday_disk_generatorThe phenomena of electricity had been known by tmahe ancient Greeks. Benjamin Franklin had displayed the relationship between lightning and electricity. But, it was the invention of the Electric Dynamo by Michael Faraday which really opened up the way to the practical use of electricity. From Faraday’s Electric dynamo, we can trace so many modern electrical machines.
Analytical Engine (computer) – 1860s
Babbage-DifferenceEngineCharles Babbage’s analytic engine is often seen as the forerunner of the modern computer. It has the ability to be programmed and calculate for this. From these early experimental machines, we saw the development of later electronic versions. wasn’t really developed until after the 1940s.
Pasteurisation – 1864
pasteurisationDeveloped by Louis Pasteur. This provided a way to prevent the growth of bacteria in substances such as wine, beer and milk. It made milk much safer to drink.
Plastic – 1869
plasticDeveloped by John Wesley Hyatt. Hyatt was an American printer and inventor. He was looking for a cheap substitute to ivory billiard balls. Hyatt combined cellulose nitrate and camphor to produce a mouldable versatile material – celluloid.
Telephone – 1876
TelephoneThe telephone was invented in 1876 by Alexander Graham Bell. Scottish born Bell was a teacher for the deaf at Boston University. In researching ways to teach the deaf, he experimented with transmitting sound via electricity. Teaching by day, he spent many hours of his spare time, developing a form of telephone.
He applied for a form of patent on March 7, 1876. Three days later he performed a demonstration of the new device, speaking the words. “Mr Watson, come here, I want you.”
Within five years, private telephone exchanges were in place in most US cities. It was an invention that caught on very quickly
Phonograph – 1877
FonografThomas Edison found that sound could be captured and replayed using a rotating cylinder covered with paraffin paper and a stylus. In December 1888, Edison applied for a patent and over next few years helped to develop the modern gramophone based on the wax – cylinder model.
Lightbulb 1879
light-bulbThroughout the nineteenth century, inventors produced simple electric lights. For example, Joseph Swan produced a simple electric light, but, he struggled to maintain a power source and the filament soon burned out when the vacuum was exhausted. It was Thomas Edison who made the lightbulb into a practical low current version. He used a filament based on a burned sewing thread.
Bicycle 1885
bicycles1889Velocipedes were invented early in the nineteenth century. The most popular at the time was the Penny Farthing, with its huge big wheel. But, the big advancement in bike technology came with the introduction of a chain to link pedals to back wheel. This enabled a higher speed without relying on a huge wheel. The key model in the chain bike was t
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