- Microphone
- Typewriter
- Braille
- Sewing Machine
Inventions
Microphone
Charles Wheatstone was the first to invent the microphone, in the form of a cone, which mechanically transfers the sound vibrations into an earpiece so the sound can be heard. Wheatstone then left the study of sound to work on the electric telegraph. After many renovations, some made by Thomas Edison, we got the microphone and speaker we have today, which can save audio. Now we have the cell phone, and before that the telephone.
Typewriter
William Austin Burt invented the typewriter, but it was not successful at first. Typewriters are much neater and faster than pencil and paper. In America, a new company invented a new, successful, typewriter. When men went off to war (WWII), the sewing machine (below) gave women more free time, sometimes enough to get a job. Most of the time, that job was a typist. The typewriter led to modern computer keyboard like the one I am using to type this.
Braille
Captain Charles Barbier invented a war code that could be read with the finger, which would later become Louis Braille’s inspiration for his braille reading system for the blind. 3-year-old Louis’ father was a leather smith, and he had a workshop, with some tools dangerous to children. Louis was three when he was in his father’s workshop, trying to make holes in some leather with an awl, which was a tool for that job. The awl slipped, and poked the sight out of one eye. Then it got infected and spread to the other eye. So he was blind. He was sent to a blind school at age 10, and the school was using Barbier’s war code to teach the students. He decided Barbier’s code was too hard to learn, so he invented his own system, the braille writing system for the blind. It spread, and now blind people have just as much of a chance in the world as someone with sight.
Sewing Machine
Bart Thimonnier, with his wife, were tailors (people who make and sell clothes), and invented the sewing machine in France in 1829. The sewing machine has a special stitch, and it does the whole process mechanically. Now clothes could be made faster, and stronger. America produced the most inventors of sewing machines. Women had more free time not making clothes, so they could go get jobs (as typists) (as mentioned above).
My Favorite Invention This Week
My favorite invention this week was the typewriter because it led to the modern keyboard and I like to type like I am now. The typewriter could also type faster than anyone could write, and that keeps the hand less tired. I can type pretty fast, much faster than I can write.