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John Kay
John Kay invented the flying shuttle in 1733.It allowed a single weaver to weave much wider fabrics, and it could be mechanized, allowing for automatic machine looms. One advantage was that the flying shuttle was an important step towards automatic machine in weaving. One disadvantage was that the pattern never changed. It rarely changed patterns. -
James Watt
James invented the Watt steam engine. A steam engine is a machine that converts the heat energy of steam into mechanical energy. One advantage was that a steam engine is much more powerful than a wind-mill or water-mill. A disadvantage was that a steam engine is huge and heavy. Due to its big boiler and furnace, a steam engine is huge, heavy and clumsy. Since the boiler of a steam engine is very heavy, therefore, a steam engine cannot be used for running cars. -
James Hargreaves
James invented the spinning jenny. The spinning jenny is a multi-spindle spinning frame and was one of the key developments in the industrialization of weaving during the early Industrial Revolution. One advantage was that it spun thread more efficiently. One disadvantage was that before it was improved later the thread that was spun was much thinner and couldn't be used efficently. -
Richard Arkwright
Richard invented the water frame.A water frame is a water-powered spinning frame which was an easy way to create a cotton thread. one advantage of this was that it made a strong, tough yarn and it was quicker than weaving. A disadvantage was that it made coarse yarn and it was not as fine of a yarn as the Spinning Jenny's. -
Samuel Crompton
Samuel invented the spinning mule. The spinning mule was a machine used to spin cotton and other fibers. one advantage was that is was a low yarn production costs. A disadvantage is that it was increasing unevenness and imperfections with increasing spinning speed, and further reduction in yarn strength. -
Robert Fulton
He invented the steamboat. A steamboat is a boat that is propelled primarily by steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels. One advantage was that they allowed faster travel of goods and passengers. a disadvantage is that they were not regulated and killed a lot of people due to boiler explosions from unsafe designs and/or unsafe operation. -
Richard Trevithick
He was the first to create the steam locomotive. See George Stephenson for more details. -
George Stephenson
George invented the steam locomotive. Steam locomotives are vehicles that run on rails or tracks and are powered by steam engines. One advantage was that helped railroads grow and learn more about the fundamentals of railroading. A disadvantage was that it was very polluting way of powering a train. -
Henry Bessemer
He invented an inexpensive way of making steel. This led to skyscrapers. But it also created a monopoly. -
Louis Pasteur
He enabled the idea of pasteurization. The advantage was that now people knew about germs. The disadvantage is that they now have to figure out a way to come up with medicine for these germs to help the sick. -
Thomas Edison
He invented the light bulb. this eventually led up to electricity. This led to the world now being very dependent on it. A disadvantage is that electricity can cause pollution. -
Nikola Tesla
He patented most of the electricity we use for today. See Thomas Edison for more details.
