Sampson Goes Science, and in our case, Tech!

1. 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?

2. Science is the study of whynatural thingshappen the way they do!

3. Technology is applying information to solve problems. The problems solved affect human needs and human wants, and for the most part stretch human capabilities.

4. Human needs are essentials like air, water, food and shelter. Human wants are items which make life enjoyable, like candy, gum and movies.

5. 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.

6. Our technology timeline of great inventions begins in 1870 with Thomas Adams and his contribution to humankind.

7. Chewsy people know that it was the bubble gum machine! And 3 years later, Levi Strauss came along to make…

8. Alexander Graham Bell invented the loudspeaker in 1876, as well as the telephone, in hopes to make the deaf hear.

9. Thomas Edison invented the phonograph in 1877, which was the same year Emile Berliner invented the microphone.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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…

13. 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.

14. Karl Benz was granted a patent for his automobile, in 1885. He named one of his more popular models for his daughter, Mercedes.

15. Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach get credit for the first motorcycle, in 1885.

16. 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.

17. Josephine Cochrane invented the dishwasher in 1886.

18. George Eastman, brought photography to the masses with the hand-held camera, in1888.

19. 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.

20. The zipper was invented by Whitcomb L. Judson, in 1890.

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. Thomas Edison opened the first movie studio in NYC, which eventually lead to the first kinetoscope parlors, in 1894. By 1905, movie theaters opened for the first time. Above Thomas Edison controls the camera with George Eastman’s help. Below is his kinetoscope. On the right is how it looks inside. The dancer in the middle is a snapshot of the first movie shown in a theater.

24. 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.

25. 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.

26. 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

27. 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.

28. 1903 saw the Wright Brothers take flight with the first airplane. Paul Cornu is shown above in his original helicopter, from 1907.

29. 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.

30. 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.

31. World War II and the Manhattan Project bring this review to an end.