Since the time humankind invented fire, we have been on a never-ending quest for invention. While some inventions completely transformed the way we live, others have made our lives more efficient. With a gamut of technological inventions, it is almost impossible to pick one.
Therefore, I will be mentioning some of the greatest technologies that have completed transformed human life:
1. The Internet
The Internet has been a breakthrough technology without which we cannot perceive modern lives. There were a number of people who assisted its development; however, one prominent individual who was credited with its invention was Lawrence Roberts, a computer scientist. In the 1960s, a team of computer scientists who were then working for the ARPA (Advanced Research Projects Agency) under the US Defense Department developed a communication network that connected the computers of the agency known as ARPANET.
The network used data transmission methods reckoned as “packet switching.” This technology was only made available to the public in the 1990s. Since then, it has bridged the communication gap on a global level.
2. Telephone
While there were many inventors who worked on electronic voice transmission, it was Alexander Graham Bell, who was credited with the patent for the electronic telephone in the year 1876. His patent design of the telephone was inspired by being a teacher to deaf children and his hearing-impaired mothers.
According to PBS, he labeled the telephone as an electrical speech machine. As soon as the idea was introduced, it took off and created a revolution in the global communication and business landscape. This invention allowed humans to move out of the written communication era and efficiently move into the verbal interaction age.
3. Computers
From computers as large as a room to the invention of computers that can fit in your bag, this invention is truly a miracle. The first computer was invented in the year 1947 that featured a 30-ton behemoth. While it was an exceptional machine, it was too big to fit in a normal room. Then, the 1970s saw the invention of the personal computer. With its invention came the downfall of typewriters as the choice of writing text.
The constantly growing need for people to use computers slowly led to the development of laptops which have further evolved into smartphones and tablets. This single invention has transformed the face of technology for man.
4. Semi-Conductors
The list of the greatest technological inventions is incomplete without mentioning the semi-conductor. It is a device that powers the computer, and without it, there would not have been personal computers. Moreover, semi-conductors are devices that facilitated the development of a laptop that was further able to transform into mobile phones and tablets.
A semi-conductor basically encompasses an electrical conductivity value that falls between a conductor like glass or metallic copper. With a rise in temperature, its resistance begins to fall. It is capable of offering various useful properties such as heat and light sensitivity, variable resistance, transferring current in one direction, etc. Owing to such properties, semiconductors are used for energy conversion, amplification, and switching.
5. Electricity
All the modern convenience that we enjoy today would not have been made possible if it were not for the invention of electricity. By leveraging the potential of nature like lighting, humans understood that it could be used to power various things. Without electricity, none of the other electric inventions would work, and we would have been still living in the light of candles.
One of the major breakthroughs in electricity came in 1831 when Michael Faraday, a British scientist, discovered the fundamental principles associated with the generation of electricity. He observed that electricity could be produced by moving magnets inside the coils of copper wire. This concept revolutionized the way people used energy.
6. Printing Press
The printing press holds a strong position in laying the foundation of modern civilization. It was invented in Germany by Johannes Gutenberg. This machine helped the mass production of newspapers and other informative pieces. It also implies the cost of printed paper fell down and was made accessible to many.
The printing press played a pivotal role in forming the industrial revolution and allowed lower-class people to afford printed newspapers and gain access to information around them. The impact of this invention was significantly influential, and it was the first technology that allowed people to gain access to world news.
7. Airplane
The human body was designed to flow, and people who made an effort to achieve this often failed. Among the many visionaries was Leonardo da Vinci who believed that man could indeed make the flight, granted that he can develop an apparatus that can help the same.
In 1903, The Wright Brothers were the ones who illustrated human flight in action. Over the years, their invention significantly evolved and become what we today knew as modern-day airplanes. Modern airplanes allow humans to fly thousands of miles within hours.
8. Steam Engine
The industrial revolution started with a small invention that powered locomotives and industries alike. It all began with the development of the steam engine by the reckoned Thomas Newcomen. However, people often confused his invention with steam-powered trains as it was invented later by someone else.
The steam engine basically was stationary and acted as a stationary motor or a pump. It was considered the bedrock of the industrial revolution. It is basically a heat engine that acts as mechanical work through steam that acts like its working fluid. The force produced by the steam is used to move the piston back and forth.
Humans are constantly looking out for new technologies that could improve their existing lives. Technological advancements have enabled us to streamline the way many things have been conducted. Above are some of the significant inventions that shaped the lives of humans.
These inventions will continue to make an impact in our lives as they together build the foundation of the modern era. In the coming years, we can surely witness some more transformation technology that will further evolve the way we perceive life.
Ajay Rathod
Hi!! I am Ajay, and I’m a passionate blogger who loves to write about a variety of topics. I’m always eager to explore new ideas and share my thoughts with others.