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Video Tape Recorder
Invented by Charles Ginsburg, the video tape recorder was first used commercially by CBS. It paved the way for pre-recorded programs to be taped and broadcast at a later time. The video tape recorder also made 'instant replay' possible. -
Automatic Sliding Doors
Texans Dee Horton and Lew Hewitt invented the sliding doors by using a mat actuator. Originally invented to solve the problem of opening a swing door in high winds, this invention has been great for mothers, shoppers and germaphobes. -
Wireless TV Remote
Zenith invented the Flash-Matic, created by their engineer Eugene Polley. It was controlled by pointing the at one of sensors on the television (found on one of the four corners), and was set to control picture on/off, sound on/off, and to change the channel dial clockwise or counterclockwise. -
Hard Drive
Reynolds Johnson was working at IBM when he invented the hard drive. Originally, the hard drive needed a large room, approximately 30 x 50 feet-much bigger than today's in computer card drives! Hard drives are essential, being used in computers and laptops today. -
Artificial Pacemaker (Implant)
While designing a circuit to record the sounds of the heart, Wilson Greatbach made a wonderful mistake. By plugging the wrong resistor into his circuit, he created the first implantable cardiac pacemaker. Previously, pacemakers were size of a tabletop radio, and had to be plugged into the wall! This invention has saved and improved thousands of lives.