Great Inventions that Changed the World (eBook)

JAMES WEI, PHD, began his career as a research scientist for Mobil Oil in 1955. Since then, he has held academic positions at the University of Delaware, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and was Dean of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Princeton University. Dr. Wei is the author of eight books and more than 130 research papers. He also holds two U.S. patents and is the former president of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE).

Foreword vii

Preface xi

1 Introduction 1

1.1 Inventors and Inventions 2

1.2 Innovation, Development, Diffusion 11

1.3 Changing the World 15

2 Inventions for Work 45

2.1 Tools and Methods 46

2.2 Energy and Power 58

2.3 Materials 71

3 Domestic Life: Food, Clothes, and House 81

3.1 Food 82

3.2 Clothes 97

3.3 House 104

4 Health, Reproduction 117

4.1 Prevention 119

4.2 Diagnostics 126

4.3 Therapy 131

4.4 Reproduction 141

5 Security 153

5.1 Natural Threats 153

5.2 Economic Threats 157

5.3 Human Violence: War 163

6 Transportation 197

6.1 Land Transportation 199

6.2 Water Transportation 205

6.3 Air and Space Transportation 216

7 Information 229

7.1 Observation 229

7.2 Records 238

7.3 Communication 250

7.4 Information Tools 259

8 Good Life 281

8.1 Party and Play 282

8.2 Luxury 294

8.3 Arts 304

9 Future Challenges 319

9.1 Future Needs and Opportunities 319

9.2 Future Sources of Inventions 325

Index 333

"I highly recommend the very accessible and thought
provoking book href="http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470768177.html">Great
Inventions that Changed the World by James Wei, Ph.D.,
to any business leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, history and
technology enthusiasts, engineers, and students of history,
technology, and engineering disciplines seeking a clear and
engaging guide to the triumphs and challenges of the greatest
inventions of all time. This book will also introduce the readers
to some of the most creative innovators and problem solvers through
the ages in a logical and readily understood format."
(Money Talks, 1 December 2012)
"I highly recommend the very accessible and thought provoking
book href="http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470768177.html">Great
Inventions that Changed the World by James Wei, Ph.D.,
to any business leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, history and
technology enthusiasts, engineers, and students of history,
technology, and engineering disciplines seeking a clear and
engaging guide to the triumphs and challenges of the greatest
inventions of all time. This book will also introduce the readers
to some of the most creative innovators and problem solvers through
the ages in a logical and readily understood format."
(Blog Business World, 1 December 2012)

"He has written a remarkable and wide ranging work that
spans human development from the stone age to the computer age . .
. Of course as a chemist, I might wish that our science and
industry had featured more prominently in Great inventions,
but this is a minor quibble of what is undoubtedly a major work
that is nothing less than superb." (Chemistry
World, 14 November 2012)

"This isn't just a book of inventions but also the
history of how it changed the world so you also have this
incredible history of the world here as well. If you're
creating a reality for any genre, then this is essential reading
because you'll realise a lot of things weren't just
there but was built upon. If you just want to be informed, then you
will come away from this book with a formidable amount of
knowledge. This is a book worthy of everyone's
attention." (SFCrowsnest.org.uk, 1 September
2012)