At the beginning of the 20th century, the world was in the middle of an industrial revolution. The greatest minds of our time were busy coming up with new and exciting technologies that would change the way we live forever. These notable achievements have given us opportunities for better communication, travel, and health. These achievements continued well into the 20th century and still have an impact today.
Mostly overshadowed by Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla was one of the most brilliant minds of the early 20th century. His most well-known achievement was with his discovery of AC, or alternating current, electricity. At the turn of the century, Tesla was working on multiple projects that would revolutionized how electricity was delivered to the world. He wanted to create a system in which electricity could be transmitted wirelessly. Though his project failed, his innovations did not go unnoticed. Today, we used both DC and AC current for our energy needs. We also use environmentally friendly methods of producing power, which Tesla first pioneered and pushed to have made available to the masses.
Marconi was a pioneer in the development of wireless communication. During the first few years of the 20th century, he conducted experiments in an attempt to send messages across the Atlantic Ocean. In 1901, he achieved this goal by sending a wireless transmission to Canada. Due to overwhelming skepticism, Marconi decided to conduct his experiment again in 1902, this time with better documentation. He was able to reproduce his earlier success, but at a smaller distance. In 1903, the first trans-Atlantic message sent from the United States was sent from President Theodore Roosevelt to King Edward VII of England.
Willem Einthoven is not a household name, but his greatest invention is. The electrocardiogram revolutionized the way medical professionals diagnose heart conditions. Prior to the invention of the electrocardiogram, also known as an EKG, the electrical pulses of the heart could not be measured without placing electrodes directly on the heart. Electrode leads would be placed in a triangle pattern, still in use today, to measure the heart’s pulses. The original machine took 5 people to operate and was not portable. Today, one technician can take a reading of the heart using an EKG machine that is portable and able to be brought directly to the patient’s bedside.
Known for the automotive company that still bears his name, Henry Ford was an industrialist and engineer who is noted for creating the assembly line. The first assembly line made production of Ford’s famous Model T faster, allowing more cars to be put on the road in a short amount of time. While automotive production was what Ford was most famous for, the assembly line has helped to supply our growing demands more than any other invention. With the exception of some smaller companies the assembly line is responsible for most of the products we use as consumers today.
The name Birdseye is synonymous with frozen foods and for good reason. In the 1920’s, Clarence Birdseye set out to find a way to freeze foods so that they would not spoil so quickly. Inspired by the way food was frozen by Inuit people he had met in Newfoundland. While ice fishing with them, he observed that fish would freeze almost immediately after they were pulled from the icy water. His perfected method of freezing did not have immediate success, however, because most homes did not have the means to store the frozen products. His innovation helped to pave the way for better means of freezing as well as being able to store frozen products.
Our civilization owes a great deal of gratitude to those who thought outside of the box. Their innovations have helped to improve our lives in so many ways. Whether their engineering field was in medicine, communications, or automotive, these great minds have shaped our world in ways we never could have imagined. Their dedication to making life simpler has given us all the opportunity to lead healthier, happier lives. Without their initial inventions and innovations, we would not have many of the products we have come to rely on today.
