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50 Most Influential Gadgets
- Thread starter yinyang
- Start date
#76 Digital HDTV
In 1987, Japanese engineers showed off their MUSE hi-def system in Washington, D.C.
Policymakers responded by pushing for new broadcast standards, and after much debate and many delays,
HDTVs arrived in stores in 1998. Today, they are in more than half of all U.S. households.
In 1987, Japanese engineers showed off their MUSE hi-def system in Washington, D.C.
Policymakers responded by pushing for new broadcast standards, and after much debate and many delays,
HDTVs arrived in stores in 1998. Today, they are in more than half of all U.S. households.
#77 Wristwatch
In 1901, while celebrating in Paris after winning a prize for circling the Eiffel Tower in a dirigible,
Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont asked his friend Louis Cartier to design a watch that would permit him to
time aerial maneuvers and still keep his hands on the controls.
Three years later, the Santos men's wristwatch, with a leather strap and buckle, went on sale.
Santos-Dumont was wearing it on Oct. 23, 1906, when he made the first successful
In 1901, while celebrating in Paris after winning a prize for circling the Eiffel Tower in a dirigible,
Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont asked his friend Louis Cartier to design a watch that would permit him to
time aerial maneuvers and still keep his hands on the controls.
Three years later, the Santos men's wristwatch, with a leather strap and buckle, went on sale.
Santos-Dumont was wearing it on Oct. 23, 1906, when he made the first successful
#78 36.8mm Camera
36. 8mm Camera
It's the most famous home movie in history: 486 frames that record on Kodachrome II safety film the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
Abraham Zapruder had left his Bell & Howell 414PD Zoomatic camera (shown here) at home that day, but at his assistant's urging,
he drove 14 miles round-trip to retrieve it. Each winding of the mechanical camera's mainspring lasts 30 seconds;
the footage that became critical evidence in the Warren Commission's report on the assassination is 26 seconds long.
36. 8mm Camera
It's the most famous home movie in history: 486 frames that record on Kodachrome II safety film the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
Abraham Zapruder had left his Bell & Howell 414PD Zoomatic camera (shown here) at home that day, but at his assistant's urging,
he drove 14 miles round-trip to retrieve it. Each winding of the mechanical camera's mainspring lasts 30 seconds;
the footage that became critical evidence in the Warren Commission's report on the assassination is 26 seconds long.
#80
Microwave Oven
From the accidental discovery file comes the tale of Percy Spencer, an engineer with Raytheon Corporation in the mid '40s.
During testing of a new vacuum tube for radar systems, Spencer noticed that the candy bar in his pocket melted.
Experiments with popcorn kernels and an egg proved the cooking power of the magnetron, which Raytheon employees
nicknamed Speedy Weenie. The first gadget-size countertop microwave hit
Microwave Oven
From the accidental discovery file comes the tale of Percy Spencer, an engineer with Raytheon Corporation in the mid '40s.
During testing of a new vacuum tube for radar systems, Spencer noticed that the candy bar in his pocket melted.
Experiments with popcorn kernels and an egg proved the cooking power of the magnetron, which Raytheon employees
nicknamed Speedy Weenie. The first gadget-size countertop microwave hit
#81
Computer Mouse
Initially, it more like an elephant: The first trackball, which was invented by researchers in the Royal Canadian Navy in 1952,
started life as a duckpin bowling ball. Other inventors created smaller prototypes, but it wasn't until Apple paired its Lisa computer
with a small controller 31 years later that the mouse assumed the basic design it has retained for decades
Computer Mouse
Initially, it more like an elephant: The first trackball, which was invented by researchers in the Royal Canadian Navy in 1952,
started life as a duckpin bowling ball. Other inventors created smaller prototypes, but it wasn't until Apple paired its Lisa computer
with a small controller 31 years later that the mouse assumed the basic design it has retained for decades
#83
Camcorder
JVC introduced the first video camera and recorder in 1984, and there is no better indicator of this gadget's success
than America's Funniest Home Videos. The home-movie clip show came on the air in January 1990 and by March had
become the No. 1 series on TV, unseating 60 Minutes. In the early 1990s, producers received 2000 videotapes a day.
Camcorder
JVC introduced the first video camera and recorder in 1984, and there is no better indicator of this gadget's success
than America's Funniest Home Videos. The home-movie clip show came on the air in January 1990 and by March had
become the No. 1 series on TV, unseating 60 Minutes. In the early 1990s, producers received 2000 videotapes a day.
#84
Electric Guitar
The electric guitar was invented in 1931, but it wasn't until 20 years later that radio repairman Leo Fender built and mass-produced
a Spanish-style solid-body electric guitar. He called it the Broadcaster; due to a copyright infringement claim, it was renamed the Telecaster.
By the 1960s, rock-and-roll had firmly taken root--and electric guitarists were the stars of the show
Electric Guitar
The electric guitar was invented in 1931, but it wasn't until 20 years later that radio repairman Leo Fender built and mass-produced
a Spanish-style solid-body electric guitar. He called it the Broadcaster; due to a copyright infringement claim, it was renamed the Telecaster.
By the 1960s, rock-and-roll had firmly taken root--and electric guitarists were the stars of the show
Doesn't look like ours at home :p
#87
Remote Control
The first remote control, invented in 1950 by Zenith, was a simple device called theLazy Bones.
It was connected to the TV by a wire. Later remote controls, which also had colorful names like Flashmatic
and Zenith Space Command, clicked when operated, hence the device's early nickname-the "clicker."
#87
Remote Control
The first remote control, invented in 1950 by Zenith, was a simple device called theLazy Bones.
It was connected to the TV by a wire. Later remote controls, which also had colorful names like Flashmatic
and Zenith Space Command, clicked when operated, hence the device's early nickname-the "clicker."
#88
Hand held GPS
Before GPS was a road warrior's tool, it was the nav system for actual U.S. military warriors.
The government opened up GPS for civilian use in 1983, after the Soviets downed a Korean airliner in a no-fly zone.
Magellan sold the first handheld unit in 1989
Hand held GPS
Before GPS was a road warrior's tool, it was the nav system for actual U.S. military warriors.
The government opened up GPS for civilian use in 1983, after the Soviets downed a Korean airliner in a no-fly zone.
Magellan sold the first handheld unit in 1989
#89
Typewriter
Early writing machines jammed easily and were "full of caprices, full of defects-devilish ones," early adopter Mark Twain wrote. In the 1870s,
Christopher L. Sholes studied letter-pair frequency (which letters are used together most often, such as th) and reorganized the letterkey layout.
The resulting qwerty keyboard, introduced in the Remington Standard 2 typewriter in 1874, prevented type bars from crossing up-and survives to this day as a computer keyboard.
Typewriter
Early writing machines jammed easily and were "full of caprices, full of defects-devilish ones," early adopter Mark Twain wrote. In the 1870s,
Christopher L. Sholes studied letter-pair frequency (which letters are used together most often, such as th) and reorganized the letterkey layout.
The resulting qwerty keyboard, introduced in the Remington Standard 2 typewriter in 1874, prevented type bars from crossing up-and survives to this day as a computer keyboard.
#88
Phonograph
Thomas Edison came upon the concept of recording and reproducing sound while trying to automate speech sounds for the telephone.
He gave a demonstration of the phonograph for Scientific American magazine in late 1877.
"The visitor without any ceremony whatever turned the crank, and to the astonishment of all present the machine said:
"Good morning. How do you do? How do you like the phonograph?'"
Phonograph
Thomas Edison came upon the concept of recording and reproducing sound while trying to automate speech sounds for the telephone.
He gave a demonstration of the phonograph for Scientific American magazine in late 1877.
"The visitor without any ceremony whatever turned the crank, and to the astonishment of all present the machine said:
"Good morning. How do you do? How do you like the phonograph?'"
#89
Portable Air Con
At the World's Fair during the hot New York summer of 1939, Willis Haviland Carrier and his scantily clad female assistants
demonstrated the first room air conditioner. In 1953, Americans bought more than 1 million window a/c units; over the past five years,
manufacturers have shipped 41 million.
Portable Air Con
At the World's Fair during the hot New York summer of 1939, Willis Haviland Carrier and his scantily clad female assistants
demonstrated the first room air conditioner. In 1953, Americans bought more than 1 million window a/c units; over the past five years,
manufacturers have shipped 41 million.
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