Inventions, 2nd draft

Technology seems to progress in leaps and bounds, as discoveries and breakthroughs are made all over the world on an everyday basis. Some of these are true boons to the world: they do things such as help cure diseases, create new forms of communication, or even speed up transportation, to name a few. While some inventions were completely functional after the first production attempt and have not changed since, some breakthroughs build on previous work, making older product models more efficient, effective, durable, or perhaps more compatible with a modern, technologically evolving world. The problem with rapid development lies in that products are often being generated so fast that a certain machine, medicine, or gadget is already a widespread household item before society can make a true assessment as to whether or not the item is worthwhile. Some inventions that appear useful at first soon prove to be detrimental for the individual as well as for society as a whole. Consumers must be able to discern between inventions that lead to improvement and those that simply satisfy America’s materialistic hunger while doing little to better the world. Considering inventions’ roles in everyday life can provide some insight into deciding which inventions are productive and which are not.

A good example of an invention that was designed properly from the very beginning is the aerosol spray can. Developed in 1926 by the Norwegian engineer, Erik Rotheim, the aerosol spray can has remained unchanged ever since. The concept was fully thought out and engineered before the final product ever arrived in your local supermarket. Admittedly, the contents are now regulated in such a way as to protect the environment, but the container itself is original and, however simple, truly needs no modifications. The can we use today for anything from deodorant, to air freshener, to whipped cream, to insecticides is the same as it has been for over 80 years.

Most inventions, however, have been improved time and time again. A very common, somewhat cliché, example is the light bulb. The first practical, long-lasting light bulb was an incandescent bulb invented by Thomas Edison and his team of scientists in 1880; since its invention, many improvements have been made. Even Edison himself found ways to make his bulb shine brighter and longer. The 20th century’s contributions to the world of lighting came in the form of fluorescent lamps and LEDs (Light-Emitting Diode). All the technology to create practical fluorescent lamps was in existence by the 1920s, but it was not until 1938 that the “fluorescent lumiline lamps” were produced and marketed. LEDs have numerous advantages. They are highly energy efficient, sometimes using up to 82% to 93% percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs. They also come in a variety of colors and are often used to spice up outdoor architectural lighting. They have a very long life, lasting up to 100,000 hours and are hard to damage, as they have no filament. One can most definitely say that the world of lighting has evolved very well, raising the bar with each new concept.

The jet airliner is another great result of years of mechanical improvement. Since the years of Orville and Wilbur Wright, airplanes have undeniably come a long way; they are in fact barely recognizable as the evolution of the Wrights’ first biplane in 1903. Compared to that momentous 12-second flight, today's airliner voyages appear unimaginable. One of the newest jet airliners, the Airbus A380, can seat 850 people. It can travel 8000 nautical miles with one 81,890-gallon fuel-up, which works out to 95 miles-per-gallon per person. In the end, it is more fuel-efficient than almost any car, including the Toyota Prius (if it is only occupied by the driver).

Hearing about such mechanical accomplishments is refreshing, but what about those inventions that we could very well do without? Some products have what one might call “side effects.” The product will fulfill its purpose, but it also has some drawbacks. Two examples come quickly to mind: television and cell phones.

Televisions are wonderful pieces of technology. Who would imagine that one day a person could be in one part of the world and be seen in real time on millions of screens all across the globe? The potential for spreading news and offering entertainment in a compelling, visual format is unimaginably vast. Sadly, smut now saturates the airwaves, with shows like “The Jerry Springer Show” or “The Howard Stern Show” polluting the minds of viewers. Mind-numbingly dull and repetitive shows like “Grey’s Anatomy” and “90210” fill dead space, luring unsuspecting viewers onto a couch where they will stay sprawled for hours, accumulating body fat by the minute. If there were a single factor in the American lifestyle that were to be chosen as the most significant cause of being overweight, there is virtually no doubt that it would be television. TV will be the final coup de grâce for American fitness, intellect, and morality; the evils of television cannot be counted.

Cell phones, like television, are a great concept. People can talk to anyone from (almost) anywhere; they can even send text, picture, or video messages. If someone is in an emergency and he or she has a cell phone, help is just a call away. The problem lies not in the devices themselves, but in the manner in which people use them. Cell phones are a social curse: teens often interrupt conversations with friends standing right next to them to answer a text message. Even though they are surrounded by a crowd of schoolmates, it’s always the one person that isn’t present with whom they wish to speak. It is impolite and quite frankly demeaning to have a leisurely, social conversation on a cell phone when you have someone waiting right beside you that you could be speaking with instead.

Consumers must consider what they are sponsoring before committing to purchasing a product. Does it have potential “side-effects?” Is it truly beneficial to the individual, the family, or society in general? Could people do without it and not really notice it’s absence? These are all great questions that can help predict whether or not a product will have a lasting, positive presence on the market. Invest in things that improve the world, not in items that simply entertain. Be smart.