Great inventions that changed the world

✍ Scribed by Wei, James

• Publisher: Wiley-Aiche
• Year: 2012
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 361
• Series: BusinessPro collection
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Discover the inventions that have made our world what it is today

A great invention opens the door to a new era in human history. The stone axe, for example, invented some 2 million years ago in East Africa, enabled us to enter the human path of endless improvements through inventions. The taming of fire enabled us to cook food as well as leave the warmth of Africa and move to the frigid lands of the North. From the stone axe to the computer and the Internet, this book provides a fascinating tour of the most important inventions and inventors throughout history. You'll discover the landmark achievements and the men and women that made the world what it is today.

Great Inventions That Changed the Worldis written by Professor James Wei, a renowned educator and engineer who holds several patents for his own inventions. Following an introductory chapter examining the role of inventors and inventions in fueling innovation and global advancement, the book is organized to show how inventions are spurred by human needs and desires, including:

Work Food, clothing, and housing Health and reproduction Security As you progress through the book, you'll not only learn about inventions and inventors, but also the impact they have had on our lives and the society and environment in which we live today. Inventions solve problems, but as this book so expertly demonstrates, they can also directly or indirectly create new problems as well, from pollution to global warming to bioterrorism. By enabling us to understand the impact of inventions throughout history, this book can help guide the next generation of citizens, decision makers, and inventors.

✦ Table of Contents

GREAT INVENTIONS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD......Page 1
CONTENTS......Page 7
FOREWORD......Page 9
PREFACE......Page 13
1 INTRODUCTION......Page 17
1.1 Inventors and Inventions......Page 18
1.1.1 Cradles of Inventions......Page 19
1.1.2 Creativity......Page 21
1.2.1 Development......Page 27
1.2.2 Factory Production and Market Penetration......Page 30
1.3 Changing the World......Page 31
1.3.1 Transforming Work......Page 32
1.3.2 Transforming Lives......Page 37
1.3.3 Transforming Society......Page 42
1.3.4 Transforming Environment......Page 53
REFERENCES......Page 55
2 INVENTIONS FOR WORK......Page 61
2.1 Tools and Methods......Page 62
2.1.1 Stone Axe......Page 63
2.1.2 Machines......Page 68
2.1.3 Production Organizations......Page 72
2.2.1 Fire......Page 74
2.2.2 Steam Engine......Page 76
2.2.3 Electric Power......Page 81
2.3 Materials......Page 87
2.3.1 Ceramics, Metals......Page 88
2.3.2 Polymers, Composite......Page 92
REFERENCES......Page 95
3 DOMESTIC LIFE: FOOD, CLOTHES, AND HOUSE......Page 97
3.1 Food......Page 98
3.1.1 Agriculture......Page 100
3.1.2 Ammonia Synthesis: Green Revolution......Page 104
3.2.1 Cotton......Page 113
3.2.2 Man-Made Fibers: Nylon......Page 116
3.3.1 House Structure......Page 120
3.3.2 Light......Page 122
3.3.3 Refrigeration......Page 125
REFERENCES......Page 131
4 HEALTH, REPRODUCTION......Page 133
4.1 Prevention......Page 135
4.1.1 Vaccination: Smallpox......Page 136
4.1.2 Germ Theory: Hygiene......Page 137
4.2 Diagnostics......Page 142
4.2.1 Imaging: X-Ray......Page 145
4.3.1 Surgery: Anesthesia and Ether......Page 147
4.3.2 Medicine: Penicillin......Page 149
4.3.3 Devices......Page 154
4.4.1 Increase Fertility......Page 157
4.4.2 Decrease Fertility......Page 160
REFERENCES......Page 166
5.1 Natural Threats......Page 169
5.1.1 Dikes and Dams......Page 170
5.2 Economic Threats......Page 173
5.2.1 Banks......Page 174
5.2.2 Insurance......Page 176
5.3 Human Violence: War......Page 179
5.3.1 Ancient Weapons and Defense......Page 180
5.3.2 Horses, Cavalry, and Stirrup......Page 184
5.3.3 Explosives......Page 186
5.3.4 Atomic Bomb......Page 194
REFERENCES......Page 210
6 TRANSPORTATION......Page 213
6.1.1 Wheel......Page 215
6.1.2 Automobile: Gasoline......Page 217
6.2 Water Transportation......Page 221
6.2.1 Sailing......Page 223
6.2.2 Navigation......Page 226
6.3 Air and Space Transportation......Page 232
6.3.1 Airplane......Page 233
6.3.2 Astronautics......Page 239
REFERENCES......Page 242
7.1.1 Enhanced Sensing......Page 245
7.1.2 Quantitative Measurements......Page 250
7.2.1 Text, Writing, and Printing......Page 254
7.2.2 Picture and Photography......Page 261
7.2.3 Sound and Phonograph......Page 263
7.2.4 Motion Pictures......Page 265
7.3 Communication......Page 266
7.3.1 Text Messages......Page 267
7.3.2 Picture......Page 271
7.3.3 Sound......Page 272
7.3.4 Motion......Page 274
7.4.1 Digital Storage and Information Theory......Page 275
7.4.2 Secret Coding: Cryptography......Page 280
7.4.3 Electronics......Page 284
7.4.4 Computers......Page 286
7.4.5 Network......Page 293
REFERENCES......Page 295
8 GOOD LIFE......Page 297
8.1.1 Beer, Wine, and Whiskey......Page 298
8.1.2 Games......Page 306
8.2 Luxury......Page 310
8.2.1 Color......Page 312
8.2.2 Monuments......Page 316
8.3 Arts......Page 320
8.3.1 Drawing and Painting......Page 321
8.3.2 Piano......Page 324
REFERENCES......Page 332
9.1.1 Market-Pull Needs......Page 335
9.1.2 Tech-Push Opportunities......Page 340
9.2.1 Future Cradles of Inventions......Page 341
9.2.2 Sponsorship of Inventions......Page 344
REFERENCES......Page 347
INDEX......Page 349

✦ Subjects

Nonfiction