Sampson Goes
Science, and in
our case, Tech!
But what does Science mean?
And what does Technology mean?
Are they the same? Can you have one without the other?
And more importantly:
Does it really take two to tango?
Science
is the study of why
natural things happen
the way they do!
Technology is applying
information to solve
problems.
The problems solved affect
human needs and human
wants, and for the most part
stretch human capabilities.
Human needs are essentials
like air, water, food and
shelter.
Human wants are items
which make life enjoyable,
like candy, gum and movies.
Human capabilities are our 5
senses and our ability to
think and move.
Our five senses are the
sense of smell, sound, sight,
taste and touch. Touch
means to hold and control.
Our technology timeline
of great inventions
begins in 1870 with
Thomas Adams and his
contribution to
humankind.
Chewsy people know that it was the
bubble gum machine!
And 3 years later,
Levi Strauss came
along to make…
Alexander Graham Bell invented
the loudspeaker in 1876, as
well as the telephone, in hopes
to make the deaf hear.
Thomas
Edison
invented the
phonograph in
1877, which
was the same
year Emile
Berliner
invented the
microphone.
Nikola Tesla was responsible for the
induction motor which was a giant step
away from direct current motors (DC), and
the start of alternating current (AC). This
happened in 1877. AC is the type of current
used in our homes.
The cathode ray tube was invented by William
Crookes, in 1877. It was the basis for television
and early computer monitors. The cash register
was invented by James Ritty in 1879.
Thomas Edison gave us the
light bulb in 1879. When he
was told that he had been
pursuing an impossible
task, “Mr. Edison, you’ve
tried over 300 filaments and
none of them work.”
He replied, “But that’s 300
I’ve eliminated.”
His reply shows the
difference from being an
optimist and a pessimist; a
winner and a…
The stapler came in to use in 1877, and the safety razor made
its appearance in 1880. More importantly, photography took a big
leap forward in 1880 when George Eastman introduced roll film.
Karl Benz was granted a patent for
his automobile, in 1885. He
named one of his more popular
models for his daughter, Mercedes.
Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm
Maybach get credit for the first
motorcycle, in 1885.
1885 had one last improvement in
transportation. It came from John
Kemp Starley, who introduced the
safety bicycle.
John Starley is
shown to the left,
modeling his bike,
which was a
reworking of the
previous model,
shown on the right.
Josephine Cochrane invented the
dishwasher in 1886.
George Eastman, brought
photography to the masses
with the hand-held camera,
in1888.
During the 1850s, Henry
Bessemer patented a way
to “mass produce” steel.
It is still used today. Also
during the 1850s, Elisha
Otis invented the Otis
elevator. By the 1880s,
both innovations took root
as sky scrappers grew
throughout the USA.
The zipper
was
invented by
Whitcomb
L. Judson,
in 1890.
To the left is an
example of color
photography, as first
done by Frederic E.
Ives, in 1892.
The first escalator
appeared in 1891,
thanks to Jesse
W. Reno.
On the bottom right, Nikola Tesla is shown demonstrating his
method of wireless communication, in 1893. Some time later,
Marconi, (shown to the right), did the same with wireless
telegraphy and it became known as the radio. Later, he did much
of his work at his factory which stood where the K-Mart shopping
center stands today. His house stood where the little park is
located at the corner of Easton and JFK Blvd.
Thomas Edison opened the
first movie studio in NYC,
which eventually lead to the
Above Thomas Edison controls first kinetoscope parlors, in
the camera with George
1894. By 1905, movie
Eastman’s help. Below is his
kinetoscope. On the right is
how it looks inside. The dancer theaters opened for the first
in the middle is a snapshot of
time.
the first movie shown in a
theater.
Contacts were a sight for sore
eyes and used for the first time
in 1887, thanks to the team of
Fick, Kalt and Muller.
X-Rays appeared on the scene
in 1895, with credit going to
Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen.
George Westinghouse, in full disagreement with
Thomas Edison, began the use of hydroelectric
power plant, during the 1890s. It was a big step
towards bringing electricity to houses and
businesses throughout America.
The final years of the 1800s also gave
the world:
Cable cars, DDT, gasoline carburetor,
carbon arc welding,
metal detector, electric fan, solar panel,
roller coaster, gasoline engine,
caterpillar tractor, ballpoint pen,
ceiling fan, milking machine, remote
control, automobile self starter,
magnetic tape recorder
H. C. Booth built a motorized vacuum cleaner in 1901.
Willis Carrier is shown with an early model of his
industrial air conditioner, which came into use in 1902.
The motorized washing machine is also shown on the
top right. It arrived in 1907, thanks to Alva Fisher. The
neon light was introduced by Georges Claude, in 1910.
1903 saw the Wright
Brothers take flight
with the first airplane.
Paul Cornu is shown
above in his original
helicopter, from 1907.
Stainless steel was first used in 1913.
Sonar developed over a period of 11
years in the early 1900s. Robert
Goddard is shown with his 1914 liquid
fuel rocket. Hard to imagine but 55
years later, a larger model of it made
the 500,000 mile round trip to the
moon and back.
Sound movies came about in the 1920s, with the
Jazz Singer being the first such movie in 1927.
Television took a while to develop, and it has its
fair share of inventors. But most history books
credit Philo T. Farnsworth with his working model
shown below, in 1934. It went on display at the
1939 World’s Fair. However, World War II put it on
hold for nearly a decade.
World War II and
the Manhattan
Project bring this
review to an end.