I’m “still reeling” from Michael Jones’ Keep It Simple column recounting the many forms of music reproduction he’s experienced from the caveman days until now – the digital age, the age of MP3s and IPods.
But it jogged my ancient memories about man’s relentless and tireless drive to invent new ways of producing and listening to music and to do other things never done before.
One of those inventions was the first video recorder by Charles Ginsburg in 1951. Little did he know what this invention would mean for the future.
And perhaps overlooked in 1952 was the invention of the bar code. A patent was issued to Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver. But it wasn’t until 1969 that the bar code scanner was invented, opening the floodgates for the quick scanning of goods at the checkout line. And for tracking rental cars and keeping track of many other things.
As a child, one of my personal favorites was the invention of the Hula-Hoop in 1958 by Richard Kneer and Arthur ﾓSpudﾒ Melin.
The Black Box flight recorder was invented by David Warren in 1953.
In 1954 the solar cell was invented.
Two years later Bette Nesmith Graham (mother of Peter Nesmith of The Monkees fame) invented “Mistake Out,” later renamed Liquid Paper.
The 1950s were quite an inventive period. Closing out the decade was a flourish in 1959 when the first Barbie doll was created. And the microchip was invented by Jack Kilby and Robert Noyce.
Some significant 1960s’ inventions included the compact disk, invented by James Russell in 1963. In 1964 permanent press fabric was invented. Where would we be without that?
For a more clear vision of the present and future, contact lenses were invented in 1965. And in 1966, my first year of college, the hand-held calculator was invented. But in those early days of the calculator, students weren’t permitted to use one while solving math problems. We did it the old-fashioned way.
Then in 1969, an invention it seems like we can’t live without, the ATM, first came on the scene.
Prior to the ATM people going on vacation had to do some prior planning, usually consisting of getting money orders or travelers checks so you could get cash far from home. Now, just pull up to a handy ATM, put your card in, and ZAP, your cash instantly appears.
In 1972, Pong, the first video game was invented by Nolan Bushnell. That one invention created an industry and and opened a whole new world for game players. There were more games to come: Pac Man, Ms Pac Man, Space Invaders, and many more.
A trio of inventions marked 1979: cell phones, Walkman and rollerblades were invented.
For computer buffs, the year 1984 has a special place in our hearts. That’s when the Apple Macintosh computer was invented.
Cell phones became dramatically smaller when the digital cell phone was invented in 1988.
It seemed like just about everything that could be invented, was already invented.
But now comes an entirely new century, with new ideas and things. What will be next? Digital travel, perhaps. Digitize me to the Bahamas, please.
BY: Frank Michels, www.gaylordheraldtimes.com
