Media Arts Timeline

  • Air Conditioning

    Air Conditioning

    Invented by Willis Haviland Carrier in 1902, the invention of air conditioning was a revolutionary technological breakthrough that allowed so many Canadians to keep cool during our dry, hot summers, and one that will continue to for years to come.
  • Period: to

    The Evolution of Media Arts

  • Scotch Tape

    Scotch Tape

    A staple in every Canadian household, the legendary Scotch-Tape was invented in 1925 by Richard Drew. Scotch-Tape has been and will continue to be used by millions of Canadians for years to come, making this invention very important.
  • The Television

    The Television

    On September 7th of 1927, Philo Taylor Farnsworth invented the world's first Electronic Television in San Fransico, California. Farnsworth had brainstormed the idea whilst still a teenager in Chemistry class. This great invention dates back to Farnworth's big idea, "a vacuum tube that could dissect images into lines, transmit those lines, and then turn them back into images.
  • FM Broadcasting

    FM Broadcasting

    Invented by American engineer Edwin Howard Armstrong in 1933, FM Broadcasting is of significant importance even in the modern-day due to its higher performance capability than other broadcasting technologies, for example, AM Broadcasting. FM Broadcasting is also less susceptible to forms of interference like static and popping sounds, meaning communication is more clear.
  • Electronic Computers

    Electronic Computers

    ENIAC, introduced on February 15th of 1946, was the first electronic computer released for the public eye. Invented and designed by John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert, this computer was a great multipurpose, programmable technological advancement that is becoming even more relevant in the modern day.
  • Non-Stick Cooking Pans

    Non-Stick Cooking Pans

    In 1954, Marc Grégoire made a major breakthrough in the cooking world when he followed his wife's advice and used Teflon to coat her cooking pans, which he had previously used on his own fishing gear. Non-Stick Cooking Pans were massive upon their release, and they still are today, any chef or even a dedicated home cook has one.
  • The Breath-A-Lyzer

    The Breath-A-Lyzer

    A staple in catching drunk people on their way home from a night out drinking, the Breath-A-Lyzer was invented in 1958 by Robert Frank Borkenstein. This technology has been and still is very important in history because it's a very effective way at catching those driving under the influence, and stopping them from making the roads less safe.
  • The Computer Mouse

    The Computer Mouse

    The development of the first Computer Mouse began in the early 1960's by Douglas Engelbart. However, it wasn't until 4 years later that Bill English built the first prototype of the Computer Mouse the world had ever seen, and more advanced designs soon followed. Computer Mouses have made significant technological advancements over the years and are becoming more and more important in everyday life as our world continues to become more digital.
  • The Magnavox Odyssey

    The Magnavox Odyssey

    Manufactured in North America and released in September of 1972, the Magnavox Odyssey paved the wave for all of the video game systems that would come after it. The first of its kind, the Odyssey was developed by Ralph Baer and allowed players their first experience at gaming. This system is apart of retro video gaming history.
  • Ethernet

    Ethernet

    Invented by Bob Metcalfe in 1973, The Ethernet cable was a staple in household computer technology for a long time, and although it is fading away more and more it is still a very important piece of technology that so many today do still use. This cable allowed users to access the World Wide Web via their computers at home and paved the way for what the internet is today.
  • The Nintendo Gameboy

    The Nintendo Gameboy

    Introduced initially in Japan on April 21st of 1989, this 8-bit handheld game console was the first of its kind in the Nintendo family. Developed by Gunpei Yokoi, this console paved the way for Nintendo's now large selection of handheld gaming consoles.
  • The Sony Playstation

    The Sony Playstation

    Released in Japan on December 3rd of 1994, this legendary gaming console paved the way for the rest of the Playstation gaming consoles, which are now within the top 3 most popular gaming consoles in the world! Invented by Ken Kutaragi, the Playstation has evolved into a very powerful and globally consumed console!
  • The Original Apple IPod

    The Original Apple IPod

    Released on October 23rd, 2001, the Apple IPod brought to the market new technology that allowed users to listen to music via a very accessible, small, hand-held music player. Invented by Steve Jobs and Tony Fadell, the IPod was a major success for Apple and it brought a ton of popularity to the company, which made it what it is today.
  • The Apple IPad

    The Apple IPad

    Released on March 7, 2012, the Apple IPod brought to users all of the same features that the IPhone did, and more! This bigger device allowed more functionality and included a plethora of new features. This device was another key product in Apple's success as a company, and it shaped the company into what it is today.