It’s hard to think of a world without technology. It has become such a large part of our lives that several of us are actually dependent on technology; some businesses can not even function without tech. We truly live in a technological wonderland. Smartphones, flat screen television and self-driving cars are abundant around the world. But how did we get to this point? These technological marvels didn’t simply fall into our laps. Here is a brief breakdown of some of the most important technological inventions.
Telephone
The importance of the telephone can not be overstated. Before the invention of the telephone, human beings had to rely on other methods of communication that were simply not as quick or reliable. With Alexander Graham Bell’s invention, human beings could suddenly speak to one another from miles away. As technology advanced, as did the abilities of the telephone. The telephone changed the way business and communication was done. What’s more, is the telephone set the stage for the smartphone.
Smartphone
Where would modern civilization be without the smartphone? It is estimated that 2.5 billion people around the world will own a smartphone by 2019. While the telephone set the (incredibly) basic groundwork for the smartphone, the iPhone is what made the smartphone what it is today. Technically speaking, smartphones have been around since the very late 90s/early 2000s, but they featured clunky designs and lacked user-friendly operating systems; the first iPhone, released in 2007, featured a capacitive touchscreen, smooth and responsive controls, an intuitive interface, and lightning-fast web browsing. 11 years later, and smartphones are now, essentially, supercomputers that we carry in our pockets. They can be used for business, personal communication, and entertainment and anything in between.
Internet
Oh the Internet, what marvels you’ve introduced us to. If the telephone grew communication by tenfold, then the Internet exponentially grew communication to unquantifiable limits. The Internet introduced us to so many possibilities and wonders. Banking, shopping, communication, writing, immense knowledge and so much more is now capable through the Internet. You wouldn’t even be able to read this blog if it weren’t for the Internet. In essence, the Internet is the infrastructure of the 21st century; it was the major building block to allow for almost all of the technological marvels of the new Millennium.
There have been far too many technological innovations throughout history to mention in one list. Make sure to stay tuned for next month’s entry in this ongoing series.
