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First Photograph Created
Joseph Nicéphore Niépce used the Camera Obscura to create the first photograph. It required eight hours of light exposure to be seen and then quickly faded away. -
Braille Invented
Louis Braille invents a system of reading for the blind, consisting of raised dots. Louis was blinded as a child, and published a book on braille the same year he invented it. -
First Electric Telegraph Invented
Joseph Henry created the first telegraph by sendind an electric pulse over a mile of wire to strike a bell. -
Morse Code Invented
Samuel Morse invents a code consisting of a series of dots and dashes that can be translated to form words. -
First Long Distance Telegraph Line
Samuel Morse creates the first long distance telegraph line. -
First Fax Machine
Alexander Bain recieves a patent for the first fax machine. -
Pony Express Established
The United States starts the pony express, a system of delivering mail to citizens of the U.S. -
Kinematoscope Invented
Coleman Sellers invents the kinematoscope, a device that flashes a series of images on a screen to make them appear to be moving. -
Typewriter Invented
Christopher Latham Sholes invents the first typewriter, a machine used to quickly write words in paper without using a pencil or pen, called typing. -
Telephone Invented
Alexander Graham Bell, with the help of Thomas Watson, invented the telephone, a device that allows for communication with the human voice across long distances. -
Mimeograph Patented
Thomas Edison patents the mimeograph, a machine used to make copies of papers. -
Dewey Decimal System Invented
Melvyl Dewey invents the Dewey Decimal System, a system of ordering books in a library. -
Phonograph Invented
Thomas Edison recieves a patent for the first phonograph. The first model used a wax cylinder as a medium. -
Incadescent Light Bulb Invented
Thomas Alva Edison improves upon the incandescent light bulb, a device that creates light, to m ake them effective and inexpensive at the same time. -
Fountain Pen Invented
Lewis E. Waterman invents the fountain pen, a device that allows for writing with ink without the need of an inkwell. -
Roll Film Camera Invented
George Eastman recieves a patent for the Kodak roll fim camera, a camera that uses film spun around a cylindrical tube to record pictures. -
Paper Clip Invented
Johann Vaaler invents the first paper clip, a device used to hold sheets of paper together. -
Hinged Door Mailbox Invented
Philip B. Downing invents the first street letter drop mailbox with a hinged door. -
Braille Typewriter Invented
Frank Haven Hall invesnts a tryperwriter that types in braille. This invention is sometimes referred to as the Braillewriter, or the Brailler. -
First Radio Promoted
Guglielmo Marconi promotes the first radio, invented by Nikolai Tesla, a device used to transmit radio waves across long distances. -
Triode Invented
Lee Deforest invents the electronic amplifying tube, also called the triode. The triode allowed for all electronic signals, like radio and telephones, to be amplified, improving the quality of the signal. -
Mechanical Pencil Invented
Tokuji Hayakawa invents the first mechanical pencil, a pencil that does not require sharpening, and instead must have strips of graphite placed inside to be used. -
Cathode Ray Television Invented
Vladimir Kosma Zworykin creates the cathode ray tube, a device used in many television sets. -
Ball Point Pen Invented
The first ball point pen is invented by brothers Georg and Lazlo Biro. The ball point pen is used to write in ink without a inkwell. -
Polaroid Corp. Established
Edwin Herbert Land establishes the Polaroid company, a corporation that creates cameras and camera components. -
Xerography Invented
Chester Floyd Carlson invents xerography (meaning dry-writing in Greek), a process by which a paper copy is made without ink. -
Liquid Paper Invented
Bessie Smith invents liquid paper, a material used for covering mistakes on white paper. -
Period: to
First Cell Phone Invented, Then Improved
The first cell phone was invented in the 1960's. Commercial models began appearing in Japan, introduced by NTT on December 3, 1979. They began appearing in other countries afterwards. Improvements continued to be made to them until, finally, you see what we have today. -
Zip Codes Created
Zip codes were instated in the United States, allowing for more precise long distance shipping, among other things. -
First Form of Internet Created
In 1969, ARPAnet was created, the first form of internet ever. It was first created as a way of exchanging military information among places in the United States. There were a limited number of super computers at the time necessary for storing all the information, so it had no way of being transmitted until ARPAnet was created. It eventually became the internet as we know it today.