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Roger Bacon created the first convex lens which was designed for scientific purposes. It was typically mounted on a stand with a handle.
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René Laënnec invented the stethoscope in France. It was created because he wasn't comfortable placing his ear to women's chests to hear their heartbeats.
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Jacob Perkins invented the first working vapor-compression refrigeration system in the world. It was given the title: "Apparatus and means for producing ice and in cooling fluids."
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Alexander Graham Bell created the first working telephone. With it, he made a call to his assistant, Thomas Watson. The line later became famous as, "Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you."
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While Thomas Edison did not create the first light bulb, he created the first seemingly-modern one. It could last for up to 14.5 hours at a time. All the ones before his either burned out too quickly, used too much energy, or were simply too expensive.
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In 1880, Maria Beasley had created a design for a life raft. She wasn't satisfied with the ones that were available at her time. BEcause of this, it was fire-proof, compact, safe and readily launched. Two years later, her life raft came to be.
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Carl Benz created the first motor-powered "car," the Benz Patent Motorwagen. It was the first working car that ran on gasoline. It was later awarded the German patent number 37435, which Carl applied for in 1886.
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The Wright brothers (Orville and Wilbur) created the first airplane. It stayed aloft for a total of twelve seconds and traveled 120 feet.
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Sir Frederick G. Banting, Charles H. Best, and JJR Macleod had discovered insulin. It was first used on a diabetic person in 1922.
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Philo Taylor Farnsworth invented the electric television. Its first transmitted image was a simple line. Later on, it showed a dollar sign as one of his assistants was asking when it would "show them some cash."
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J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly invented the ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer). By the end of three years (1943-1946) it covered about 1,800 square feet and weighed nearly 50 tons.
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In 1958, Physicist William Higinbotham had created what is believed to be the first video game. It shows extreme similarities to the 1972 video game, Pong.
