TOP TEN TECHNOLOGIES Pre-1970s

[nathansabah]

Hey what's up people,
So for a school assignment, I had to come up with 10 technologies that were invented pre-1970s and helped shape the "American experience of Technology." I came up with my technologies then thought to myself, who better to ask about technology than the Chief Delphi community!
So what do you guys think? What would be the 10 technologies (pre-1970) that you think defined the American experience of technology.
These were my 10 technologies (in chronological order):

1. Automatons: The first Automaton was created in 1737. Automatons are a vital revolution in technology well, because, if Automatons weren't created, there would be no robotics today (and that means no FIRST).

2. Vaccination: Vaccinations date back all the way to the 1790s. Vaccination is important because it opened up endless possibilities in the medical fields. It also helped with the growth of society because less people were casualties of disease.

3. Internal Combustion Engine: The first internal combustion engine was created in 1807 by Francois Isaac de Rivaz. The development of this piece of technology was important to the American technology experience because after this engine was made, automobiles, planes, and even lawnmowers could be developed.

4. Electric Sewing Machine:In 1889 Singer Sewing Co. created the first electric sewing machine. This opened up the door to home tailoring and other electric home applications. The electric sewing machine

5. Radio: The first radio was created in 1896. The radio completely revolutionized the world. It opened up the world to media, entertainment, and news.

6. Airplanes: The first sustained flight was in 1903. Since then the science and technologies of aviation have skyrocketed. How can this not be on this list??? With the creation of airplanes, the world has flattened tremendously.

7. Assembly Lines: The first use of the Assembly Line was in 1908 for the Ford Motor Company. This revolutionized manufacturing and allowed many new technologies to be developed.

8. Television: In 1928 the first working television with electric scanning was created. These machines have developed and spread communication as well as advertising.

9. Nuclear Power: In 1942 the first man-made nuclear reactor was built, called Chicago Pile1. This reactor was used to create the nuclear devices that were used in Japan in WWII. Because of these developments, nuclear power has taken control of international warfare.

10. Computers: In 1946 the ENIAC was created. The ENIAC was the first real general computing system. This ultimately lead to the computers which we have in our homes today. Without computers where would we be? News and information would be much more difficult to obtain and I wouldn't be able to discuss this with you guys.

I KNOW THAT THIS IS A LONG POST BUT IT WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED IF EVERYONE RESPONDED WITH WHAT THEIR LIST WOULD BE! THANKS EVERYONE!

[Duke461]

Im going to admit im too lazy to make a list, but your list looks good so far. the only thing id have to add in is transistors. quite possibly the most influential technology invention of all time.

[sanddrag]

Originally Posted by Duke461

the only thing id have to add in is transistors. quite possibly the most influential technology invention of all time.

I find it odd that the OP does not appear to be affiliated with a team and this was his first post but I would have to agree that the transistor is a MUST on the top 10 most important inventions of Pre-1970s if not all time.

[nathansabah]

Hey Sanddrag,
Sorry I created this account for a class in school and this would be my first assignment. I'm actually Captain of team 1836 The Milkenkights. (Btw anything I post in this thread or on this account is not affiliated with my team). Sorry for not clarifying that before.
Back on topic, really just the transistor??? Surely theres some other technologies to add to the list.
--Nathan-- (Team 1836)

[MrForbes]

I'd put a mechanical clock on the list, it made "time" possible. Before clocks, society worked differently.

Plumbing--sewer and fresh water--also had a big effect, although it was not a sudden thing, and still doesn't exist in a lot of the world.

Air conditioning....

[lnessim]

Not really sure why I'm helping you out for a class thats some sort of competition but hey, why not?
I'd add the invention of the first musical synthesizer/cassette/CD which catapulted the music industry into a huge industry in the nation

[Mark McLeod]

The wheel
agriculture
writing
the idea of tools
lever/fulcrum
mining/smelting/casting/machining (stone age, bronze age, iron age, Industrial revolution)
paper/printing press
electricity
rockets/satellites/space age

[Travis Hoffman]

Gunpowder
Dynamite (think building railroads, dams, mining)
The Military Industrial Complex

Seriously - think of all the technology that exists because originally someone invented it to wage wars/defend against wars.

[Ether]

laser

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Magnetics
This field has allowed the use of efficient electric motors, recording of all types, imaging for biomedical uses and assembly analysis, electronic scanning, it made radar possible through the use of the klystron, TWT amplifier, and magnetron and in the pre-70's the use of core memory. Magnetics continues to improve speaker design, headphone design, display technologies, high power transmitters, microphones, beam accelerators and a world of other items.

The wheel.

If it weren't for that, our robots would have to move via square boxes of regolith, which we all don't want.

[sanddrag]

Originally Posted by SuperNerd256

The wheel.

If it weren't for that, our robots would have to move via square boxes of regolith, which we all don't want.

It still bothers me that FIRST ever used the word "regolith" to describe something that was not even remotely similar, and now it appears we're using it to describe high-density polyethylene wheels?

/diversion. Back to the thread.

I bet a lot of teams can agree on this: Mountain Dew.

Aiding teams since 1992.

[Chris is me]

1. Printing Press
2. Cotton Gin
3. Mains power
4. Mill
5. Light
6. Refrigeration
7. Cars
8. Simple Machines
9. Combine
10. Drip Irrigation

Ten off the top of my head that made the biggest difference to humanity. I didn't list the personal computer as that is largely post 1970s.

[Travis Hoffman]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

Magnetics continues to improve speaker design, headphone design, display technologies, high power transmitters, microphones, beam accelerators and a world of other items.

...minibots...