We always admire the groundbreaking inventions that shape our life. For example thediscovery of smartphones, cars and computers which have inveterate impact on our daily lives. But what about the small and underrated inventions that quietly shape our day to day lives. In this article we are going to talk about those underrated inventions whose influence can not be ignored.
1:The Zipper
A device with interlocking teeth which is used in everyday life is simple but most useful micro invention. Without zipper it will take more time to get dressed.
It was invented in the 19th century the zipper has become indispensable in clothing, bags, and other products. Before the zipper, peoples were totally dependent on buttons and hooks, which were far less convenient.
2:Ball pen
A pen is a device which has a rotating ball at its tip which dispense ink, is a small subtle invention which simplified writing.
Invented in 1938 by László Bíró, pen is now being used worldwide from schools to offices. Before the discovery of ball pen fountain pens were used but they require fragility and ink refills that’s why ball pens were discovered.
3:Sticky Notes
They Are Little sticky pieces of paper you use to remind yourself to do things, invented by Dr. Spencer Silver in 1968 after a lab accident.
From organizing workspaces, to leaving quick notes for your loved ones, these itty bitty pieces of paper make their home in yours.
4:Velcro
A fastener system with two layers: one with tiny hooks and another with loops, invented by George de Mestral in 1941. After seeing how burrs stuck to his clothes, he developed a fastening system that emulates the mechanics of nature.
Velcro is strong, reusable, and has been used in everything from shoes to NASA’s space suits. It’s something we use so easily on a daily basis that we do not even think about it anymore.
5:Barcodes
These lines and spaces create a barcode that can be scanned to identify products. Barcodes were developed in the 1950s.
It revolutionized the retail industry by reducing the complexity of inventory control and checkouts. Without it, commerce today would not be as fast and easy for consumers. Just imagine trying to manually track each product.
6:QR Codes
Although QR Codes were developed in 1994 for regular industrial purposes, but they became popular due to their ability to seamlessly connect the real world with digital content. Nowadays, QR codes are crucial in all aspects of life, from making payments, sharing information and many others, hence very important in the present digital era.
7: Windshield Wipers
A mechanism for clearing rain or debris from car windshields was invented by Mary Anderson in 1903. Before the invention of the windshield wiper, drivers had to stop and clean their windshields manually, this made driving during bad weather hazardous. This simple innovation made driving safer and convenient to stand for modern automated wiper systems.
8:Flush Toilets
In this modern era of disposal of waste through the use of water, the system has its foundations that can be traced back to ancient empires. Flush toilets changed the game in terms of sanitary standards and general wellbeing of human health. They have reduced the cases of diseases and the level of dirt all across the globe.
9:Refrigerators
Preservative techniques have existed many centuries before fridges, as techniques such as salting and drying, or the use of ice boxes were relied on. Food storage techniques have progressed greatly thanks to the innovation of fridges. However, refrigerators not only help in making life easier but also in reducing wastage of food around the world, ensuring better health and safety of food.
10: Electric Fan
A non-descript object like a fan may seem trivial, but it is a matter of life and breath for the majority of people living in hot climatic conditions, even in the hottest regions.
In high-temperature environments, electric fans are a cheap and affordable option of a cooling device without the installation of an air conditioner.
Conclusion
Such advancements might lack the glitz of advanced artificial intelligence applications or the allure of exploring outer space. They nonetheless have a significant influence on our everyday activities. It is their brilliant yet simple design and functionality that makes sure that issues of great complexity are resolved with minimal effort. The next time you pull your jacket over, or you jot something down, remember to acknowledge these remarkable innovations which promote the quality of our lives in a mostly overlooked, yet very effective way.
Which other unappreciated inventions, do you believe, should be acknowledged more? Leave a comment below for us!