A Brief History
On July 19, 1977, the first ever Global Positioning System, GPS, signal was received in Cedar Rapids, Iowa courtesy of Navigation Technology Satellite 2, ushering in an era that prevents fumbling around with intricately folded maps while trying to drive a car. Today, we look at some nominees for the greatest inventions of the 20th Century, and you are welcome to make your own nomination to the list.
Digging Deeper
The Airplane, 1903.
Tetanus Vaccine, 1924.
Television, 1927, though disputed.
Electronic Computer, 1943 or 1937.
Silly Putty, 1943.
Microwave Oven, 1945.
Oral Contraceptive Pill, 1950, came to market in 1960.
Nuclear Power Electricity, 1951.
Polio Vaccine, 1952.
Velcro, 1955.
Space Craft, 1957.
Video Game, 1958.
Lasers, 1960.
Cell phones, 1973.
GPS, 1977.
The Internet, 1983.
Question for students (and subscribers): What do you think is the greatest 20th Century invention? Please let us know in the comments section below this article.
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Historical Evidence
For more information, please see…
Chostone, Lester. GPS: How To Use It and The Best Free Apps. Kindle, 2014.
Jedicke, Peter. Great Inventions of the 20th Century. Chelsea House Publications, 2007.
The featured image in this article is a work of a United States Space Force member or employee, taken or made as part of that person’s official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the file is in the public domain in the United States.
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