5 Ordinary Inventions that Shaped the World
Human
inventions and technologies have shaped civilizations and transformed life on
earth. From the invention of the wheel to the development of Spaceship several
inventions are revolutionary. Each generation brings with it a set of innovative
thinkers who either intentionally or by accident end up developing certain things
that change the world forever.
Inventions are
not always supposed to be too grandiose. They can be as ordinary as a pen, but what matters is the impact that they leave. Here we are going to see certain ordinary inventions with an extraordinary impact.
1. Wheel
The
invention of wheel has been considered as hallmark of invention’s as it is one
of the biggest blessing to humanity. From the wheel of the car to the nib of
the pen, almost everything you find in your surroundings, in one way or the
other is derived from the concept of the wheel. Around 3500BC an idea struck one
of the wise Homo sapiens when he cut a disk from the trunk of a tree and made a
hole in its center. The end product was wheel one of the greatest inventions in
human history. It is hard to think how are lives would have been without wheel’s
invention.
Evolution of the Wheel |
2. Shipping Container
Before its
invention shipping goods around the world for many centuries was very
expensive, time taking and risky. It was very tedious job to load and unload
the goods from the ships. But in 1955, an American trucking entrepreneur Malcom
Mclean got an idea of containing certain amount of goods into a steel container
and then loading them onto the ship. This was a revolutionary invention in
global trade as it would decrease the cost of transportation and would also
ensure that the goods are delivered undamaged. On April 26th, 1956
the first shipment was made in shipping containers. After its invention this
idea has been adopted by many others around the globe. Sir Malcom Mclean
managed to turn a seemingly impractical idea into a massive industry and was
able to give a must needed boom to the global trade.
Malcom Mclean |
3. Solar PV
Before
its invention shipping goods around the world for many centuries was very
expensive, time taking and risky. It was very tedious job to load and unload
the goods from the ships. But in 1955, an American trucking entrepreneur Malcom
Mclean got an idea of containing certain amount of goods into a steel container
and then loading them onto the ship. This was a revolutionary invention in
global trade as it would decrease the
cost of transportation and would also
ensure that the goods are delivered undamaged. On April 26th, 1956
the first shipment was made in shipping containers. After its invention this
idea has been adopted by many others around the globe. Sir Malcom Mclean
managed to turn a seemingly impractical idea into a massive industry and was
able to give a must needed boom to the global trade.
4. Conveyor Belt
Unlike
other inventions there is no fixed date when conveyor belts were invented.
Primitive conveyor belts were used since 19th century. In 1925, Richard
Sutcliffe invented the first conveyor belt and installed in coal mines. In 1913, Henry Ford introduced the concept of conveyor belt assembly lines at Ford Motor
Company’s Highland Park, Michigan factory. Its invention has brought a major
turnaround in manufacturing sector as it speeds up the process and ensures greater
production rates.
5. Battery
Batteries are so ubiquitous, yet they are they are almost invisible to us. It
is a remarkable invention with a long history and an exciting future. The first
battery was invented by Alessandro Volta in 1800. The lead acid battery was invented
in 1859 and is one of the oldest examples of rechargeable battery. In 1980 the American
physicist Professor John Goodenough invented the Lithium-ion batteries. The
lithium-ion batteries because of its long battery life and self-charging
property is considered as excellent alternative for the other older versions of
the batteries.
Early electric battery |
very helpful.... good job
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