- Electricity
- Batteries
- The Internet
- The Search Engine
- Screens
Lights inside the screens
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These are just a few of the things you likely used to reach this article and it's not even a drop in the bucket of what you actually used. These things were created by engineers, and while their ideas build upon the ideas of those who came before, here are 5 of the most important Engineers throughout time.
Imhotep:
If you took classes on Egypt at any point in your education you likely know this name, but did you know he invented the idea of using a column to build structures? If it weren't for Imhotep we wouldn't have the Coloseum in Rome, The Parthanon, bridges, or even the beautiful southern palatial homes like those in Gone with the Wind.Alessandro Giuseppe Antonio Anastasio Gerolamo Umberto Volta:
Have you ever used a 9-volt battery? The lovely term for the strenght of the battery came from the engineering genius who created the first cell (battery) to store electrical energy. Alessandro Volta invented this extremely important tool in 1800.This has allowed for the creation of items such as cell phones, portable radios, calculators, and thousands of other common day items. Without the battery our phones would remain housebound, iPods wouldn't exist, laptops would be desktops, and we would still be hand cranking our cars to start the engine.
Orville and Wilbur Wright:
If you've ever flown anywhere, you can thank the Wright Brothers. The pair created the first true flying machines and with the creation of combustion engines, alloy metals, and radar technology their humble beginnings were the foundations of modern marvels. Without the Wright brothers perhaps the Boeing 747, or the Stealth Bomber wouldn't exist. The world has become an accessible place to the majority of the world thanks to the Wright Brothers and their desire to keep trying.Thomas Edison:
While considered to be merely an inventor, Edison's skills are that of a trained Engineer and yeilded such amazing creations as:- Phonograph
- Transmitter
- A better light bulb
- What is now General Electric
His contributions to the world through his self-taught engineering and creative mind are still in use today. Every time you turn on the lights, you should thank Thomas Edison, not just for the light bulb, but for the electricity running through your home.
Dr. Leonard Kleinrock:
If you're reading this article you should be thanking Dr. Kleinrock. While a graduate student and MIT he invented the principals of packet switching which is the idea and system which operates the internet. With the application of his theories, Kleinrock was able to participate in sending the first message via the internet. It is thanks to this man that the concept of the Global Communications came about as well as international trade, the world of accessible knowledge, as well as on the go entertainment.While there are thousands of hard working engineers who have contributed to the world, these are just 5 of the most important. From bridges and electricity to the internet and batteries, engineers truly do run the world.
Without the men and women who create, design, and keep trying to make things better and brighter our society would have become stagnant long ago. It is our engineers who truly make this world a wonderful place to live.
Paul WaltersAbout the Guest Author:
Paul Walters is an engineer and guest author at BestOnlineEngineeringDegree.com, a site with guides and resources to help prospective students find the best engineering degrees online.