The importance of inventions in our lives

 The Concept of Invention

Invention can be defined as the process of discovering ways to solve a particular problem or finding valid arguments to make something more plausible, according to Cicero's early thesis. Simply put, invention is the discovery of something new. The person responsible for inventing something is known as an inventor, who combines ideas and objectives in a specific manner to create something unprecedented. An inventor is often characterized by keen observation, constructive analysis, and clear explanation of a pre-existing matter, enabling them to create something novel. It is not necessary for an inventor to be a scientist or an engineer.

The Importance of Inventions in Our Lives

Modern inventions and technologies have brought about numerous changes in human life globally. Many inventions have improved lives, enabling people to live longer due to access to clean water and the ability to preserve food and medicine through refrigeration. Inventions impact our lives in the following ways:

• Simplifying people's lives by reducing the time needed to accomplish specific tasks, allowing them to invest time in more important matters.
• Promoting research and development activities in technological fields like database technology, software technology, video technology, and communication technology.
• Facilitating communication between people.
• Making most aspects of life easier, faster, and more efficient.
• Increasing individual earnings and overall economic growth, as they can be used to boost profits.
• Advancing various industrial aspects.

Inventions That Changed the Course of Life

Inventions have transformed human life, with many improving it for the better. Here are some of the most important inventions throughout history:

• The Wheel: Before the invention of the wheel in 3500 BCE, moving objects on land was limited. The invention of wheeled carts made tasks such as agriculture and trade easier by facilitating the transportation of goods to and from markets. Wheels are now found in daily life applications, like clocks, vehicles, and turbines.

• The Nail: The nail dates back over 2,000 years to ancient Rome, and its use began as humans developed their ability to cast and shape metals. Nails were used to fasten wooden structures, making construction easier. Nail production has evolved, with 10% of American nails made of soft steel wire by 1886 and most made from it by 1913.

• The Compass: The first compass was invented by ancient Chinese between the 9th and 11th centuries. Made from magnetized lodestone, the compass later helped sailors navigate.

• The Printing Press: Invented by German Johannes Gutenberg in 1440, the printing press allowed easier and faster dissemination of books and knowledge. By 1500, twenty million volumes were printed in Western Europe.

• The Internal Combustion Engine: This engine converts the chemical energy stored in fuel into mechanical work, contributing to the industrial age with applications in modern cars and planes.

• Telephones: Scientists developed several communication devices, starting with the printer, followed by the telegraph, then the radio. Eventually, the telephone emerged, making communication easier and reducing time, effort, and cost.

Inventions and Inventors Throughout History

The following is a timeline of some inventions and their inventors:

• 2 million years ago: Stone tools by early humans.
• 3rd century BCE: Archimedes' screw by Greek Archimedes.
• 1939: First jet aircraft by German Hans von Ohain.
• 1943: Aqua-Lung by French Jacques-Yves Cousteau.
• 1947: Geodesic dome by American Richard Buckminster Fuller.
• 1947: Transistor by William Shockley, Walter Houser Brattain, and John Bardeen.
• 1948: First solar-heated home by American Maria Telkes.
• 1948: First electric guitar by American Leo Fender.
• 1964: Computer mouse by American Douglas Engelbart.
• 1964: Supercomputer by American Seymour Cray.
• 1981: Scanning tunneling microscope by German Gerd Binnig.
• 1990: World Wide Web by British Tim Berners-Lee.
• 1991: Linux open-source operating system by Finnish Linus Torvalds.

References:

• Richard Nordquist (March 13, 2019), "Invention (Composition and Rhetoric)," www.thoughtco.com, Retrieved April 22, 2019. Edited.
• "Inventor," www.thefreedictionary.com, Retrieved April 22, 2019. Edited.
• Erik Gregersen, "Inventor," www.britannica.com, Retrieved April 22, 2019. Edited.
• Jeanne Kimberley Chandler, "Who Gets to Invent and How Do Inventors Change Our Lives," teachersinstitute.yale.edu, Retrieved April 22, 2019. Edited.
• "How Has Technology Affected Your Life," www.academia.edu, Retrieved April 22, 2019. Edited.
• James Broughel, Adam Thierer (April 4, 2019), "Technological Innovation and Economic Growth," www.mercatus.org, Retrieved April 1, 2021. Edited.
• Natalie Wolchover (March 3, 2016), "Top 10 Inventions That Changed the World," www.livescience.com, Retrieved May 5, 2019. Edited.
• "Development of the Telephone," www.elon.edu, Retrieved April 22, 2019. Edited.