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First practical lightbulb
In the 1800s, many attempts were made to develop light bulbs.In 1878, Thomas Edison successfully developed an incandescent lamp and continued his research with different materials for light bulb filament. In 1880, he founded Edison Electric Light Company and commercially distributed light bulbs. This invention create significant on American lives, socially and industrially, as lighting improved night time efficiency.
"I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps" -
The Kodak Camera
The Kodak Camera was created in 1888 by George Eastman, a former blank clerk in Rochester, New York. Despite being only a simple box camera, it soon became a national craze in the form of snapshot industry. With Eastman's genius marketing, amateur photography rose significantly in popularity. With the success of the Kodak, more and more advanced photography techniques and devices would become more prevalent in the US.
"You push the button, we do the rest." - George Eastman -
The Kinetoscope
The Kinetoscope, invented in 1891, was the predecessor to the motion-picture film projector. It was created by Thomas Edison and William Dickson. Motion was created by moving a strip of film between lens and a light bulb, spun by a wheel. At first the Kinetoscope was only patented in the US, but after its success in Broadway, it was sold in other countries. This created a foundation for modern US cinematography.
"This apparatus I call a Kinetoscope 'Moving View.'" - Thomas Edison -
First successful airplane in the US
1903 marks the creation of the first successful airplane in the US, brought to fruition by the Wright brothers, Wilbur and Orville. With numerous attempts in history resulting in failure, the brothers worked day and night to create a working propulsion system, and ultimately the Kitty Hawk, the airplane that made history. This would set a precedent for the prosperous future of American aviation.
"If birds can glide for long periods of time, then… why can't I?" - Orville Wright -
First mass produced car in the US
In the past, there were automobiles created by different inventors. However, one stood out from all, and that was the Model T. The Model T was introduced in 1908 by Henry Ford, its creator. With his then advanced assembly line, it became widely available across the country with affordable prices by all. The car along with its process of production marked an important milestone in the US car industry, paving the way for the industry.
"I will build a car for the great multitude." - Henry Ford -
First electronic television
The first electronic television was invented by Philo Taylor Farnsworth, in 1927. He has been living without electricity until he was 14, and in high school he started think of system that can capture images and transmit them along radio waves. The result was the first ever electronic television that ousted every mechanical television to date. It created a basis that would change the television industry in the US.
"This has made it all worthwhile." - Philo Farnsworth -
The ENIAC (Electrical Numerical Intergrator and Computer)
The ENIAC was the first programmable general-purpose electronic digital computer, built by John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert in 1946. The machine was enormous and easily the most complex electronic system ever built. Its structure and system proved to be a basis for future electronic computers and US technology.
"Where a calculator like ENIAC today is equipped with 18,000 vacuum tubes and weighs 30 tons, computers in the future may have only 1000 vacuum tubes and perhaps weigh only 1½ tons." -
First satellite in the US
The first Earth satellite in the US is the Explorer I. It was launched into orbit on January 31st, 1958 by the US Army. This was after the Soviet Union's successful launch of the Sputnik I, world's first artificial satellite, and marked the US' participation in the global space race. The satellite represented the US' position in technological advancement and space exploration journey.
"The Soviets were ahead of us, but starting with Explorer 1, we caught up very, very fast and surpassed them." -
The Internet
In 1980, scientists Vinton Cerf and Bob Kahn developed a set of guidelines called TCP/IP. These guidelines worked as a way for networks to communicate with each other efficiently and widespread, whereas before info had to be transferred manually. ARPANET adopted the TCP/IP in 1983, marking it the Internet's official birthday. This would serve as a basis for the modern Internet we know today.
"The Internet lives where anyone can access it." - Vinton Cerf -
First smartphone - The Simon
A smartphone is basically a phone with a display screen, with applications similar to a computer. The first smartphone was designed by IBM and sold in 1993. It featured a touchscreen interface and as computer component became cheaper, smartphones grew more advanced, such as Internet access. This invention prompted other companies such as Apple to develop their own smartphones and fueled the US advancement in communications technology.
“I am totally computer-functional!”