Life-changing breakthroughs of the century
Technology has constantly improved our way of living. Not only did it help us figure out the mysteries of the world, but it also allowed us to live comfortably. Our way of life is more convenient because of the different innovations made by developers.
Here at Korea Eureka Day, we want all our readers to know about technological advancements to help them understand the origins and importance of breakthroughs in technology. You can check them all out right here!
Optical lenses
It is impossible to increase eyesight, develop television sets, or better photography and filmmaking without the invention of the Greeks. Using this archaic technology of optical lenses paved the way for CDs, DVDs, and other optical storage technologies.
Paper
When it comes to computer document programs, paper, a Chinese invention that dates back to around 100 BC, acts as the building block of choice. Individuals may use it to blog and connect with others on the internet since it serves as their basis. Even if we didn’t consider it at the time, we would have been unable to record our thoughts if the paper had not been invented.
Telephone
Alexander Graham Bell made the first phone call a little over 30 years after Samuel Morse transmitted the first telegraph. Finally, the idea led to international phone calls, not simply those within a few feet of each other. Fast forward to now, we all now carry a smartphone or mobile phone around with us at all times.
Smartphones
Smartphones have become an essential part of our daily lives. So many other technological improvements may be connected to and utilised, from GPS to mobile banking to fitness applications.
Printing press
The printing machine and paper have enabled people to record and express their views for millennia permanently. It allowed the first printing of books and other texts, facilitating intellectual growth.
Electricity
Without electricity, many of today’s comforts would have been impossible to achieve. Lightning strikes were used to make this finding feasible, as also other natural forces such as wind and rain. If electricity hadn’t been discovered, we would all still be reliant on candles to provide us with modern amenities.
Lightbulb
Edison’s invention of the incandescent lamp allowed us to see things clearer. To realise how great this innovation was, you had to experience a power outage when your only illumination source was candles. Thanks to smart light bulbs, Alexa and Google’s virtual assistants can help us avoid being left in the dark.
Television
For a long time, movie theatres were the only place to go to see a movie. Even though they remain the best venue to see high-budget films, the emergence of television laid the groundwork for the kind of home entertainment we have today. There were black-and-white televisions with remote controls, and then there were colour televisions and remote controls.
Automobile
The first car was, without a doubt, a vehicle for change, and it didn’t stop moving. Since its beginnings, the vehicle’s design has had to be modified in response to a global desire to minimise traffic congestion and eliminate the use of fossil-fuel vehicles.
Vehicles such as hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, and autonomous vehicles represent the next generation, and they demonstrate that the automobile will be around for many years yet.
Human genome project
The Human Genome Project has transformed medicine in ways that no other modern scientific accomplishment has been able to match. Because of identifying disease-related genes, there has been an explosion in many biotech companies seeking innovative methods to enhance healthcare.
Aeroplane
People were happy to travel across continents by boat before the invention of long-distance aircraft travel. Using an aeroplane instead of a boat allows us to go to different destinations more quickly and efficiently than we might otherwise.
Semi-conductors
Semiconductors are often recognised as one of the most significant technological accomplishments ever. The computer would not exist if semiconductor chips were not invented. Without it, there would be no tablet or phone since it created a pivotal point in technological development.
Computers
The personal computer of the 1980s was a marvel, coming from the gigantic room-sized computers of the 1970s. Word processing software’s capacity to create readable text made typewriters obsolete. In response to customer demand, the laptop was created. The Android phone and tablet followed. Now you can get powerful gaming PCs and ultra-thin laptops. This one discovery changed humanity’s connection to technology.
Elevator
Without the elevator, today’s cities would be difficult to comprehend. Skyscraper structure and design were forever changed with the development of the elevator. The elevators opened the door to a whole new world of possibilities.
Laser
When lasers were discovered for the first time in 1960, a lot of people were unsure about their potential applications. Since then, lasers have found their way into almost every area, from health care to consumer electronics to manufacturing.
Transistors
Transistors are an underrated innovation present in almost every electronic gadget today. These transistors have been used in TVs, phones, and computers since their invention. It is fair to expect that integrated circuits will continue to have a significant impact on current technology.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics have saved millions of lives by killing and preventing the growth of harmful microorganisms. Before antibiotics, antiseptics targeted both human and germ cells, and their use skyrocketed in the twentieth century. Antibiotics like Penicillin saved the lives of around 20% of soldiers in World War I and just 1% of soldiers in WWII. But with antibiotics like streptomycin, vancomycin, cephalosporin, and penicillin have foiled almost every known sickness.
Steam engine
Early steam engine development opened the way for autos, factories, railways, and even spaceships. Transport, agriculture and industry expanded tremendously throughout the 1800s thanks to external combustion, enabling global giants to emerge. The steam engine’s primary notion of energy-to-motion paved the way for advances like internal combustion engines and jet engines.
Global positioning system
The Global Positioning System (GPS) was first established in 1973 and first became operational in 1995. A triangulation method is used to verify your location and is the driving force behind the GPS devices and software that people use today to navigate their way around.
Digital camera
Kodak invented the digital camera in the 1970s. It took a long time before technology was integrated into today’s things. A Nikon film camera was linked to Kodak’s first professional digital camera in 1991. Digital cameras are now in security cameras, smartphones, and PCs.
Magnifying lenses
Magnifying lenses, a seemingly ordinary device, have enabled us to glimpse into living cells and distant galaxies. Lenses and microscopes were invented in the 13th century, whereas telescopes were developed in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
These early uses sparked the creation of the electron microscope and the Hubble Space Telescope. Magnifying lenses have revolutionised astronomy, biology, archaeology, ophthalmology, and surgery.
Telegraph
The telegraph was the precursor of radio, telephones, and email. International communication was revolutionised by the telegraph and its wireless progeny. Communication swiftly across large distances influenced government, business, banking, industry, military, and the news media.
Steel
Steel, not stone, bronze, or iron, drove the Industrial Revolution and the development of modern cities. It was used to create everything from railroad bridges and tall buildings to automotive engines when it became one of the world’s major industries.
Paper currency
Money has frequently been precious metals, coins, or even simple items like livestock or vegetables throughout history. The introduction of paper money marked the dawn of a new era in which money could be used to purchase goods and services.
The switch to paper money bailed out failed nations during crises and ushered in a new era of global monetary domination. Therefore, paper money paved the way for credit cards and digital banking.
Compass
While satellites and GPS have made magnetic compasses obsolete, their impact on early navigation and exploration cannot be underestimated. The compass enabled accurate sea navigation, igniting the age of discovery and clearing the path for cross-cultural dialogue and collaboration, peaceful or not.
Web browser
The debut of Mosaic, a more user-friendly web browser, significantly improved the overall experience of online browsing. Mosaic’s work is that modern browsers like Chrome and Firefox owe a debt of appreciation to.
When Mark Zuckerberg launched Facebook in his dorm room in 2004, it became the first social media network to garner widespread worldwide attention. People come together on Facebook for a variety of reasons, ranging from reuniting with high school pals to organising anti-government demonstrations. As a result, the platform is compelled to deal with various issues.
Domestication of horses
Since horse domestication thousands of years ago, they have been strongly tied to human advancement. They enabled humanity to travel large distances, trade, and exchange ideas and technology with people from other cultures. Their strength and agility allowed us to move goods, cultivate fields, and even clear forests. Horses were perhaps the most critical component in changing warfare.