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Hans Lippershey - Refracting Telescope
Hans Lippershey was a spectacle creator from the United Netherlands. He applied for a patent and made the first refracting telescope in 1608. He made telescopes known to the world. -
Blaise Pascal - Pascaline
The Pascaline, or Arithmetic Machine, was created by Blaise Pascal. He was a mathematician and philosopher. This was the first commonly known and widel used calculator. -
Christiaan Huygens - Pendulum Clock
Christiaan Huygens was a mathematician, horologist, astronomer, and physicist. He based his design off of Salomon Coster's work. The pendulum clock was more accurate; while clocks before it were about 15 minutes off, the pendulum was only 15 seconds off. -
Denis Papin - Pressure Cooker
The physicist Denis Papin invented the first pressure cooker, which was Papin's Digester at the time. This reduced cooking time because it could heat more than a saucepan. -
Bartelomeo Cristofori - Piano
The Italian Bartelomeo Cristofori invented the first piano. He was discontent by the harpsichord's control of volume level. -
Joseph Priestly - Carbonated Water
English scientist Joseph Priestly took the work of Christopher Merret and added on, inventing carbonated water. He released his discovery in 1772. -
George William Manby - Fire Extinguisher
George William Manby, a British inventor, created the first portable, pressurized fire extinguisher. It could "deploy up to three gallons of potassium carbonate onto a fire." -
Charles Babbage - Computer
Charles Babbage designed the first automating computers. His designs came to life in London, 153 years after he designed them. Charles contributed greatly to the making of computers. -
Robert Anderson - Electric-Powered Carriage
Robert Anderson created the first electric-powered carriage. He has added to the development of vehicles powered by elctricity -
Charles Goodyear - Durable Eraser
Charles Goodyear experimented with rubber, when he eventually used sulfur to vulcanize it. He made erasers, and other rubber things, durable, especially during warm weather. -
John Loughlin - Desk
John Loughlin and T.D. Scott made desks, and started the Sidney School Furniture Company. -
Jan Matzeliger - Shoe Making Machine
Jan Matzeliger was a shoemaker in the United States. He invented a shoe making machine that made shoes more accessible, and with lower pricing. -
Louise Austin - Pinking Shears
Louise Austin invented pinking shears, scissors with sawtooths rather than plain blades. -
Guglielmo Marconi - Radio
Guglielmo Marconi designed and sold the first long-distance wireless telegraph. In 1901, he broadcasted the first transatlantic radio signal. -
Wright Brothers - Airplane
Orville and Wilbur Wright first designed the glider, and the next year they designed the airplane. -
Lee Newman - Felt-Tip Marker
Lee Newman made the first felt-tip marker. It was a basic cylinder filled with ink, and with a felt tip. -
Asher Kelty and Nena Kelty - Modern Backpack
Asher Kelty, with the help of Nena Kelty, designed the modern backpack. They made it easier to carry more weight and made it more comfortable. -
Ivan Sutherland and Bob Sproull - VR
Ivan Sutherland and his student Bob Sproull created the first virtual reality headset. It was very heavy and had to be hung from the ceiling. The name of this device was the Sword of Damocles. -
Nathaniel Wyeth - Plastic Soda Bottle
Nathaniel Wyeth created the first durable plastic soda bottle. The material he used was polyethylene terephthalate. -
IBM - Smartphone
The tech company, IBM, created the first smartphone. It was very bulky, and they called it Simon.