There is also evidence for the controlled use of fire by our ancestors, Homo erectus , beginning around 1,, years ago. Flint blades that have been burned in fires have been dated to roughly , years ago. There is also evidence that f ire was used systematically by early modern humans to heat treat stone, to increase its ability to flake, for use in toolmaking around , years ago. According to a heavily debated hypothesis, it was the use of fire for cooking that allowed the larger brain of Homo sapiens to develop in the first place, by allowing hominids to eat a wider variety of foods.
From the past to the present, fire has been used in rituals, agriculture, cooking, generating heat and light, signaling, industrial processes, and as a means of destruction. It can easily be considered to be one of the leading inventions that changed the world. The sophisticated human life would not have been possible without the invention of the humble nail. They provide one of the best clues in determining the age of historic buildings.
Prior to the invention of nails, wood structures were built using rope, they were used to interlock adjacent boards.
The invention of nails goes back to several thousand years and was possible only after the development of techniques to caste and shape metal. Bronze nails dating from around BC, have been found in Egypt. According to the University of Vermont , the use of hand-wrought nails was the norm until the s and early s.
By , 90 percent of nails produced in the U. As with fire, the use of tools likely predated the evolution of Homo sapiens , and may stretch back 2. Today, there are a number of animal species that use tools. Anthropologists believe the use of tools was an important step in the evolution of mankind.
Some of the earliest tools may have been sticks, stone, and fire. However, almost anything can be a tool, depending on how it is used. The light we use today in our homes and offices comes from a bright idea from more than years ago. Electric lights were pioneered in the early 19th century by Humphry Davy, who experimented with electricity and invented an electric battery.
When he connected wires between his battery and a piece of carbon, the carbon glowed, producing light. His invention was known as the e lectric arc lamp. But without a good vacuum, his bulb had too short a lifetime for commercial use. Thomas A. Edison improved on Swan's design by using metal filaments and in and he filed patents for electric lights using different materials for the filament.
He eventually discovered that a carbonized bamboo filament could last over hours. Battery electricity has become the basic need for our day to day life, another essential invention. Of course, electricity itself has been here around all along, but the practical applications to effectively use it was invented. Although many use electricity, how many of you know the history of electricity?
Alessandro Volta is generally credited with discovering the first practical battery. He invented his battery in , it consisted of discs of two different metals, such as copper and zinc, separated by cardboard soaked in brine. In , British scientist Michael Faraday discovered the basic principles of electricity generation. The electromagnetic induction discovery revolutionized energy usage. Street lights were some of the earliest attention gaining equipment. With the rise in electricity usability, now it stands as a backbone of modern industrial society.
The prehistoric battery may date back to the Parthian empire, which is around 2, years old. The ancient battery consisted of a clay jar filled with a vinegar solution, into which an iron rod surrounded by a copper cylinder was inserted. These batteries might have been used to electroplate silver.
But, as mentioned in the previous entry, the inventor of the first electric battery is Alessandro Volta, who developed the pile battery. After that, in , William Cruickshank invented the Trough battery , an improvement on Alessandro Volta's voltaic pile. Did you know that new sodium-ion batteries could pave the way for sustainable battery production? Before the Internet's ability to spread information, the printing press helped information travel around the globe.
German goldsmith Johannes Gutenberg is credited with inventing the printing press around , although he was far from the first to automate the book-printing process. Woodblock printing in China dates back to the 9th century and Korean bookmakers were printing with moveable metal type a century before Gutenberg.
By , Gutenberg presses were operating throughout Western Europe with a production of 20 million materials, from individual pages, to pamphlets, and books. The telegraph was developed around - by Samuel Morse and other inventors, which revolutionized long-distance communication.
The electrical signals were transmitted by a wire laid between stations. In addition, Samuel Morse developed a code, called Morse code , for the simple transmission of messages across telegraph lines.
Based on the frequency of usage, the code assigned a set of dots short marks and dashes long marks to the English alphabet and numbers. The telegraph laid major foundations for modern conveniences like telephones and, according to some scholars, computer code. Bronze was the first metal forged for use by humans. However, bronze is relatively weak.
Around 1, BC, a people along the Black Sea called the Chalybes began using iron ore to create sturdy wrought iron weapons with around 0. Cast iron, which was about percent carbon, was first made in ancient China beginning around BC. The Chinese metalworkers built seven-foot-tall furnaces to smelt iron ore into a liquid and poured this into carved molds. Around BC, Indian metalworkers invented a smelting method that used a clay receptacle called a crucible to hold the molten metal.
The workers put bars of wrought iron and pieces of charcoal into the crucibles, then sealed the containers and inserted them into a furnace. The wrought iron melted and absorbed the carbon in the charcoal. When the crucibles cooled, they contained ingots of pure steel - a much stronger, less brittle metal than iron.
The later development of the blast furnace led to even stronger steel. After British engineer Henry Bessemer developed a process that blasted air through molten pig iron to create carbon-free, pure iron in The famous invention of the Bessemer Process paved the way for the mass production of steel, making it one of the biggest industries on the planet.
Now steel is used in the creation of everything from bridges to skyscrapers. In , Julius Lilienfeld patented a field-effect transistor, but the working device was not feasible.
Transistors have since become a fundamental piece of the circuitry in countless electronic devices including televisions, cellphones, and computers, making a remarkable impact on technology. Antibiotics have saved millions of lives by killing and inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria. Throughout the 20th century, antibiotics spread rapidly and proved to be a major living improvement, fighting nearly every known form of infection and protecting peoples' health.
The history of contraceptives dates back at least to B. C, where records indicate that ancient Egyptian women would mix honey, sodium carbonate, and crocodile dung into a thick, solid paste called pessary and insert it into their vaginas before intercourse.
However, many researchers believe that old world birth control methods like there are not effective, and indeed, possibly life threatening. In Charles Goodyear patented the vulcanization of rubber, which led to the mass production of rubber condoms. The Pill launched an international revolution that allowed women to determine when they would have children, and freed them from unplanned pregnancy, which could derail their careers.
Of course, x-rays are a phenomenon of the natural world, and thus can't be invented. But they were discovered accidentally. The invisible was made visible in X-ray is undoubtedly one of the epoch-making advancements in the field of medicine. While testing whether cathode rays could pass through glass, he noticed a glow coming from a nearby chemically coated screen. Because of the unknown nature of the rays, he named them X-rays. Through his observation, he learned that X-rays can be photographed when they penetrate into human flesh.
In , during the Balkan war, X-rays were first used to find bullets and broken bones inside patients. In , he received the Nobel prize in physics for his work. Over the last years, refrigeration has offered us ways to preserve food, medicines, and other perishable substances. Before its conception, people cooled their food with ice and snow. James Harrison built the first practical vapor compression refrigeration system. While it helped to rev up industrial processes initially, it became an industry itself later on.
A small box with the ability to convey enormous information and which has changed entertainment and communications forever. The invention of television was the work of many individuals. It could be said that history has been written by the invention and use of advanced technology. Ultimately, technology has positively affected human life from antiquity until now by solving problems associated with everyday life, and making it easier for different tasks to be completed.
Technology has made it easier to farm, more feasible to build cities, and more convenient to travel, among many other things, effectively linking together all countries on earth, helping to create globalization, and making it easier for economies to grow and for companies to do business. Virtually every facet of human life can be carried out in an easier, more effective, and quicker fashion via technological solutions, resulting in less problems in one way, and more problems in another.
While technology has had several less-than-desired impacts on society as a whole, there are potentially more positive impacts on society than negative impacts. Such impacts have made life easier for multitudes, and have gifted many with the resources, education and tools needed to live a better life. Such impacts have greatly affected agriculture, transportation, communication, and the education sectors within societies globally.
Ancient agricultural practices have seen a radical change with the mechanization of agriculture. Such mechanization simply means that machines and technological systems including robots have replaced ancient farming systems such as work animals and manual labor.
This has resulted in more automated, highly efficient farm practices, producing far more abundant food resources for more people. While it is still possible to walk to most places on earth, the advent of trains, buses, cars, airplanes, speed boats, etc. Adding to that are ridesharing apps, such as Uber and Grab, which have made it incredibly easy to get to a destination very quickly and inexpensively. The backbone of any society is its infrastructure, which includes both telecommunication and transportation systems, so the evolution of both systems has greatly helped to shape the modern world.
Telecommunication systems are a very crucial part of any advanced society. From using bird messages and smoke signals, to the faster, more efficient, more effective, and more global system of email, phone calls, and app messaging allows for people to stay connected in a globalized world. From Skype to VOIP to global telecom carriers, it is highly feasible for people to travel the world and stay connected, and even possible for remote workers or international businesses to utilize video calls and conference calls via the Internet to keep their businesses going without interruption.
In the modern world, it is as easy as utilizing a Google search, podcast, or YouTube video to learn virtually any skill that one needs to succeed, whether it be a new language, a programming language, a technical skill, or an obscure part of history.
Online gateways and websites have also allowed institutions of education to offer educational materials in an all new, streamlined manner, helping students to master materials using computer systems that they are familiar with, and also allowing them to consolidate their educational materials in a single place. The depletion of fossil fuels, the need for more rare-earth elements, the use of rare elements such as gold, coltan and tantalum as is required for modern electronics - which have often helped fuel wars in mineral rich continents and countries - and the burning of fuels potentially impacting Global Warming are all very real issues created by an increasing use of technology.
Despite the invention of contraceptives, the human global population has exploded, in part due to better technologies that have allowed for longer life spans, more abundant sustenance availability, and the management of resources that have allowed for more effective reproduction.
Ironically, the presence of more humans is partly related to resources being more depleted, but also resulting in more effective management being implemented. However, the increasing usage of technology has affected some health epidemics that previously were unheard of, including the development of societal sedentary lifestyles such as constant sitting , excessive exposure to blue light from electronic devices, and constant exposure to EMFs, which can result in chronic illness such as immune system dysfunction.
Along with the depletion of resources, one of the most notable negative impacts of technology is the great increase in pollution due to industrialization.
And while climate change is a highly controversial subject, many scientists agree that global warming is very real and is a threat to the human species. From the dawn of civilization, technology has changed - sometimes radically - the way people have lived, how businesses have operated, how youths have grown up, and how people in society, as a whole, have lived day to day.
This includes facets of societal behaviors such as communication, travel, learning, business, convenience, and health. Objects that use IoT are also commonly referred to as smart objects think of smart TVs.
These systems usually have their own applications that you can open and control no matter where you are. All you would have to do is open the smart thermostat app to tell it what to do. The sensors on these thermostats are specifically designed to optimize your home for energy efficiency. Once you set your desired temperature, the thermostat can work on its own to keep your home at the best temperature. There is no hassle and no need to make several trips to different stores.
While we still encourage as much daily exercise as possible, it can be too hectic and even hazardous sometimes for seniors to be out running so many errands. Your average yard sale is even now online. With websites like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace , you can browse listings from people in your area.
These are people who are looking to get rid of their used furniture, clothes, appliances, and more. Using these websites, you can view items based on what you need and your budget. If smart devices seem overwhelming to you, there may be an easy solution: voice assistants. With a voice assistant, you can control all of the smart devices in your home and access the Internet by speaking voice commands. When it comes to shopping, these devices allow you to create a shopping list out loud and then have it automatically transferred to your phone.
This makes the whole process easier for seniors with mobility issues with writing or who would rather speak out loud than make a list on a phone. Many of these devices even integrate directly with online shops. With the Amazon Alexa , you can immediately make Amazon purchases without ever having to go online. To make everything in your home easier to access, you can integrate your voice assistant with any smart device to make it accessible via your voice. If your home needs temperature adjusting or you want to turn some lights off, you can do it all through a series of simple voice commands.
All you need to do is ask your voice assistant a question, and it will give you an answer found online. Most phones these days are also equipped with different versions of voice assistants. You can ask it to set reminders and alerts through your phone without having to search through settings.
For seniors, voice recognition software can significantly improve the ability to live independently by making everyday tasks easier, aiding with medication reminders, and simply providing a more accessible, intuitive way to use technology. Another example of this type of technology is food delivery. We all lead busy lives that could use some extra time. The ability to have things brought to your home is especially helpful for seniors or those with disabilities or sickness.
One aspect of our lives that we often take for granted is the ability to head over to the grocery store. Food delivery can come in many different forms. Currently, many mobile apps allow you to order delivery from your favorite restaurants. These apps pay people just like you to pick up takeout almost anywhere. Many of these same apps and others offer grocery delivery, such as Instacart and Shipt. A lot of grocery stores like Walmart, Target, and Kroger even offer delivery or pick-up options.
It can also help if you find it difficult to leave the house but still want to make home-cooked meals. Lastly, you can also use subscription-based food delivery companies to get meals sent to your doorstep every week.
These come in different forms. For example, companies like Blue Apron and HelloFresh deliver meal kits with all the ingredients for a set of recipes. Meal kits can help seniors by cutting out a lot of the preparation needed to make a meal. While frozen tends to mean less nutritious, these companies have put a lot of time and research into developing delicious recipes.
They still taste great after being reheated yet also contain the nutritional value for different needs, including vegetarians, people with diabetes, and seniors. These options remove the need for time-consuming grocery shopping and cooking. Senior meal delivery companies make it easy to stay healthy without sacrificing your mobility or personal time. Driverless cars have been in development for years, but this technology has yet to become commonplace.
When it does, it will lead to fewer accidents on the road. It will also make transportation more accessible to everyone. People will be able to use cars even if they have disabilities or live in areas without public transportation. Driverless cars will use sensors to understand when to brake, speed up, turn, and park. Until the development of technology for driverless cars is ready, people will still be using planes, trains, and regular automobiles to travel.
Technology has made some of these options more accessible. One of the most popular types of apps used today is for ride sharing. Popular ride sharing apps companies like Lyft and Uber. The technology in their apps allows people to hail a ride from anywhere, just like a taxi cab.
The best part about these apps is that the driver is trackable from a GPS map. The companies let everyday people with modern cars apply to become drivers. Some people are hesitant to take rides from strangers.
For your security, the apps have rating systems in place to ensure the drivers are doing their jobs well. The companies also continually update their security measures to make sure riders are safe. Transportation apps like these are also an excellent way for seniors to make some extra money through the gig economy.
What is the gig economy? Aside from money, taking on a gig job can help keep you active through using technology, communicating daily with customers, and getting out around your town. For seniors or people with disabilities, IoT devices are some of the best technologies for keeping them safe at home.
One of the best ways technology has changed our lives is in keeping us safer. While there have been countless technology advances in hospitals and medicine, there are also new technologies we can use at home.
These enhance our everyday lives with safety and protection. One great example is fall detection technology. Through wearables or floor and bed sensors, small devices are capable of knowing when someone falls.
Once these sensors go off, caregivers are alerted through intercoms or mobile alerts. Outside of IoT devices, simple medical alerts can keep the elderly or disabled safe. At its most basic level, a medical alert is usually a base station that comes with a wearable emergency button. The user presses the button when they need assistance, and a caregiver or loved one nearby is alerted to check on them. Medical alert systems come as either monitored or non-monitored devices.
A non-monitored device works as we described above, and a series of numbers are pre-programmed as emergency contacts. Companies like MobileHelp and Medical Guardian provide monitored medical alert systems.
These companies provide the medical alert equipment while also hosting a staff of remote monitoring operators either outsourced or in-house. Monitored alert devices are a huge benefit to older adults or seniors staying home by themselves. The devices allow help to be only the click of a button away should family members or caregivers be too far or unable to assist. The monitored devices also sometimes come with connectivity apps so that family caregivers can stay up to date with senior care. The apps will show when emergency buttons are pressed and can also provide activity monitoring through home or wristband sensors.
Smart security systems at home can also keep you safe from intruders. When these alarms go off, they can begin recording with a camera around your home and will also alert security professionals.
These systems also connect to an app that you can access on your phone.
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