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Inventions Poster Project
Links of Interest (Some of the Inventors and Inventions on these pages do not fit in the proper time periods, but many of them do! Be sure to compare with your requirements!)
18 Cool Inventions From the Past somewhere between the great world-changing inventions there were some fun and sometimes even hilarious inventions the world has forgotten. BoredPanda proudly presents these Cool Inventions From the Past
The 50 Best Inventions of 2009 From a rocket of the future to a $10 million lightbulb, here are TIME's picks for the best new gadgets and breakthrough ideas of the year. See also The Best Inventions of 2004 or The Best Inventions of 2008.
Behind Every Invention There's a Story... Expand your mind at this eye-opening site about America's inventive creativity which is provided by the Lemelson Center at the Smithsonian Institution. Find out about the cultural influences on innovation and innovative design. Take a look at such innovations as robotic surgery, a windsurfing wonder, solar shingles, lasers and electromobiles. Centerpieces include "Innovative Lives," "Edison's Life," "Electric Guitars," and "The Quartz Watch." Click "Short Cuts" to go to the sections of interest to students, and don't miss "Rockin' with Electric Guitars." Resources for teachers and experiments are included.
Black Box Flight Recorder You will find some interesting information in this tribute to the inventor of the black box flight recorder, Australia's own David Warren. You will discover what tragic event in this inventor's life that caused him to actively take part in researching ways to find out what happens in airplanes when they crash. The tribute includes information on when the black box was first used in different parts of the world and where it first became mandatory.
Encyclopædia Britannica's Great Inventions: Aerosol cans, assembly lines, and atomic bombs didn't exist a century ago. Hot air balloons and clocks have been around for more than 200 years. Did you ever wonder who invented buttons, contact lenses, or bar codes? Find out when and where some of the greatest inventions of all time were invented and who invented each one. From air conditioning to zippers, you can gather these basic facts about some of the world's greatest inventions.
Forgotten Inventors Do you know who invented the feather duster or the Frisbee? This Web page highlights seven "forgotten inventors" who gave us items and processes we use and depend on daily but whose names have been lost in history. Inventions included are the feather duster, the Frisbee, blue jeans, the oil burner, the gas mask, the can opener, and the blood bank. The brief descriptions of these contributions serve as a reminder that what we may take for granted was once a problem that an inventive mind solved.
Hall of Fame - Invention Channels: Chemistry Without Charles Goodyear's invention, rubber products would still melt in hot weather and freeze in cold weather. The Chemistry Channel of Invent Now introduces inventors who have contributed to the understanding, use, and transformation of chemical substances. From dynamite to vitamins, you can explore these many inventions. Learn about the medicines Tetracycline, Penicillin, and Tagamet. Find out how some often-used items like Scotchgard, Teflon, and Kevlar came to be. Each segment has biographical information about the inventor.
Inventions/Inventors/Dates list: A list detailing well known inventions and discoveries in common use, and the creative thinking inventor responsible for inventing such important devices. The year each invention was invented is also listed which is either the year in which the item was patented or was publicly displayed without a patent.
Inventor of the Week Archives: Are you looking for information on a specific inventor? Or do you want to find out who invented a certain device? This site is easy to find exactly what you're looking for. Use the alphabet to local your inventor or invention and read detailed information about your topic plus find more sites to link into.
Inventors and Inventions: This is a good reference site from EnchantedLearning for finding quick facts about inventors and inventions. You probably know who invented the telephone but are you aware of who invented the basketball, crayons, television or the slinky. Just check out the alphabetical, chronological, or category index to find out about these items and others. There is a wide range of inventions from jeans and Velcro to aqualung breathing apparatus. Categories include clothing, communication, food, fun, medicine, science, industry, transportation and undersea.
Inventors - Published by About.com, this site has lots of links. Some of them are great and others are more questionable. Be sure to review the site carefully for credibility.
Lancelot (Lance) Leonard Hill (1902-1986) and the Hill's Hoist You may have heard the phrase, "Build a better mousetrap, and the world will beat a path to your door." Australian mechanic Lance Hill did not invent the rotary clothes line, but he did make a better one, and became successful because of his invention. In fact, he started his own company to manufacture his invention and, more than 50 years later, it is still in business making the Hill's Hoist and other products, as well. Visit the Kidcyber web site to learn more about Mr. Hill and his invention.
Lemelson - MIT Program: Celebrating Invention and Innovation "The Invention Dimension" offers a wealth of information regarding inventors and the inventions they have created. Visit this site weekly to review the "inventor of the week" or simply peruse the inventors archive for a list of previous inventors that have been chosen. Brief biographical information is provided along with a breakdown of accomplishments including successful and unsuccessful inventions.
Lighting A Revolution The Smithsonian invites you to compare Thomas Edison's light bulb invention with several electric lighting inventions of a century later. See what was used for light before the light bulb and then follow the steps taken by Thomas Edison as he invented the light bulb. Meet Thomas Edison and find out about his lab in Menlo Park. Discover how the lamp was promoted and see who his competitors were. Learn how the electric lamp changed lives. This site has many photographs and drawings.
Technology Timeline: 1750-1990 Travel along the technology timeline from 1750 to 1990. In the 1700s, the lightning rod, submarine, and cotton gin were invented. The United States issued its first patent in 1790. The 1800's saw many new inventions. The steamboat, armored warship, amphibious vehicle, passenger elevator, escalator, submarine, pneumatic subway, and gasoline-powered car changed transportation. Tools, such as the profile lathe, sewing machine, reaping machine, threshing machine, and cylinder printing press, changed the way we work. Explore other inventions of the 1800s and 1900s and how they changed the way we live.
What in the World is That? Ingenious Inventions Throughout History Play this on-line invention game and see how many inventions you can identify. Then, visit the "Learn More" section. Here you will find a listing of many significant inventions throughout history. Some of these inventions include the steam engine, the telephone and the cotton gin. Click on an invention and a corresponding pop-up page will appear. From here, you can also access additional web links about the particular invention. This web site is published by the Library of Congress.
Who Invented Microwaves? Visit this web site and read about the invention of the microwave oven. Dr. Percy Spencer did not set out to invent the microwave oven; his invention was actually the result of a research project. Have you ever popped popcorn in the microwave? When Dr. Spencer placed popcorn kernels near a vacuum tube, he noticed the popcorn popped, and this eventually led to the invention of the microwave. Read the details when you visit this web page.
Who Invented Radio? Two men in different places in the world worked on transmitting wireless radio signals. Both Guglielomo Marconi and Nikola Tesla used their scientific knowledge to experiment with early wireless communication in the late 1800s. This PBS site about Tesla and his work describes the inventions of both men and the patents they applied for. Learn who ultimately got credit for inventing the radio. The site includes much more information about Tesla and his many other inventions and patents.
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When you've finished your project, ask your teacher if you can go to this site: Invention at Play: Step inside the Invention Playhouse to learn the connection between playing and inventing. Interactive games let your imagination play. Dream up some cloud creations, problem solve with puzzle blocks, and play with words! Find out the abilities humans develop through play, and meet some inventors whose childhood play resulted in some pretty nifty inventions. Inventions often begin with doodling. Try the sketchpad as you do some doodling. You can even view sketches of Alexander Graham Bell's first telephone.
Many of these sites were discovered via Follet's Destiny Search Tool. You may use it by logging into our school's online library catalog, and accessing Webpath Express.
