what is the most important technology in the 20th century

Full Answer

What is the greatest technological development in the 20th century?

Overall, the single most-mentioned success is the space program. Almost one-in-five people cite the exploration of space as America's greatest feat.

What technology was used in the 20th century?

A massive amount of new technologies were developed in the 20th century. Technologies such as electricity, the incandescent light bulb, the automobile and the phonograph, first developed at the end of the 19th century, were perfected and universally deployed.

What were the most important developments of the 20th century?

The 20th century was dominated by significant events that defined the modern era: Spanish flu pandemic, World War I and World War II, nuclear weapons, nuclear power and space exploration, nationalism and decolonization, technological advances, and the Cold War and post-Cold War conflicts.

Why was technology important in the 20th century?

It was one of the most momentous transformations of the 20th century, for it altered the quality of industrial and social organization. In the process it assured technology, for the first time in its long history, a position of importance and even honour in social esteem.

Why 20th century has the greatest success in science and technology?

The invention in the 20th century is the success in the world of science and technology. The inventions of mobile phones and access to social networks are definitely above all the formation in the history of humans. Mobile phones and the internet are like the hearts and brains of the people of the 20th century.

Which turn of the 20th century invention had the biggest impact on communication?

The Radio. Occasionally underappreciated, the radio was one of the first major inventions of the 20th century. Invented in conjunction with many different scientists including Nikola Tesla and Guglielmo Marconi, the radio became the most used forms of communications in the world.

What was the greatest achievement of the 20th century?

Overall, the single most-mentioned success is the space program. Almost one-in-five people cite the exploration of space as America's greatest feat. Successes in the realm of world peace — such as winning the World Wars and the Cold War — are cited by just 7% of the public.

What are the best and most useful inventions in the 20th and 21st century?

I will start with the top ten of the 20th century and then the top ten of the current century.Radio. Not many people can appreciate the impact the advent of radio had on 20th century. ... Internet. ► Inventions. ... Television. ... Antibiotics. ... The Submarine. ... Rocketry. ... Automobile. ... Airplane.More items...•

Who is the greatest innovators of the 20th century?

Here's a list of the 12 greatest innovators of all time.Thomas Edison. ... Steve Jobs. ... Nikola Tesla. ... Bill Gates. ... Benjamin Franklin. ... Leonardo Da Vinci. ... Alexander Graham Bell. ... Sandford Fleming.More items...•

What inventions were made in the 20th century?

We began the 20th century with the infancy of airplanes, automobiles, and radio, when those inventions dazzled us with their novelty and wonder. We ended the 20th century with spaceships, computers, cell phones, and the wireless Internet all being technologies we can take for granted.

What is the most important invention of 21st century?

3D printing, E-cigarettes among the most important inventions of the 21st centuryMobile operating systems.Multi-use rockets.Online streaming.Robotic exoskeletons.Small satellites.Solid-state lidar.Tokenization.Touchscreen glass.More items...•

What is the newest technology in 21st century?

There's a reason the 21st century has been dubbed the Information Age. Every year, new technology is invented to expand our research abilities and make life easier. ... Blockchain. ... Cryptocurrency. ... AI Cloud Services. ... 5G. ... Autonomous Vehicles. ... Quantum Computing. ... Genetic Engineering.More items...•

What is technology in the 21st century?

Since the beginning of the new millennium, the world has witnessed the emergence of social media, smartphones, self-driving cars, and autonomous flying vehicles. There have also been huge leaps in energy storage, artificial intelligence, and medical science.

What was technology like in the 1900s?

The three most important inventions developed during the decade included the automobile, the airplane, and the radio. Each new device transformed American life by greatly expanding the average citizen's opportunities for travel and communication.

What are the best and most useful inventions in the 20th and 21st century?

I will start with the top ten of the 20th century and then the top ten of the current century.Radio. Not many people can appreciate the impact the advent of radio had on 20th century. ... Internet. ► Inventions. ... Television. ... Antibiotics. ... The Submarine. ... Rocketry. ... Automobile. ... Airplane.More items...•

What is the newest technology in 21st century?

There's a reason the 21st century has been dubbed the Information Age. Every year, new technology is invented to expand our research abilities and make life easier. ... Blockchain. ... Cryptocurrency. ... AI Cloud Services. ... 5G. ... Autonomous Vehicles. ... Quantum Computing. ... Genetic Engineering.More items...•

What would happen if there were no transistors?

Without transistors, modern electronic devices would not exist. From cell phones and computers to televisions and cars, transistors are a crucial part of modern life. Without them, the most advanced piece of technology would resemble something closer to a lightbulb rather than an IBM supercomputer. But what is a transistor? Basically, it is a miniaturized switch, capable of turning an electrical current on or off. Various types of primitive transistors were used throughout the 20th century, but the modern transistor is usually credited as being created in 1947 by a group of American engineers working for Bell Laboratories.

What is jet engine?

Jet Engines. From warfare and space exploration to commercial travel, jet technology opened up a myriad of possibilities for humanity. While many ancient examples of basic rocket technology exist, practical and world-changing rockets were not developed unit the 20th Century.

Why did the man who nicked his face fall ill?

After receiving permission to administer their medicine the man began to recover, but soon fell ill because the researchers ran out of penicillin, which at the time was very hard to produce in useful quantities. However, new methods soon yielded enough penicillin to cure a variety of infections and became critical to Allied War efforts during WWII, saving the lives of thousands of American soldiers.

How many nuclear bombs were tested in 1945?

By 1945, one nuclear bomb was successfully tested and two more were ready to be used on Japan, as Germany had already surrendered earlier that year. With the Allied victory in WWII, new efforts to use nuclear technology in a peaceful manner were initiated.

What were the first uses of nuclear technology?

Though nuclear technology is most intimately linked with warfare, its first uses were medical. As early as the First World War, Marie Curie, who famously isolated the first radio-active element (Radium) in 1902, began to sterilize the wounds of soldiers with radon gas. She was also responsible for creating mobile x-ray machines used in the French war effort. Only later did it become known that radiation possessed harmful and even deadly side effects. While early medical experiments with radiation were limited, by the 1940s the world was thrown into another world war. This time, many governments turned their focus to the destructive potential of nuclear technology.

How did nuclear technology impact the 20th century?

Whether good or bad, many aspects of life changed with its introduction. It deeply influenced warfare, energy production, medicine, and even household technology.

What companies made computers?

Companies like Apple, Tandy, and Atari started producing computers for home use. By the 1980s personal computers were becoming commonplace along with the first cell phones and dedicated gaming consoles. Today, our modern world would cease to function in an instant without transistors. << Previous.

What is the greatest invention that has changed the world?

The airplane, although invented earlier, was not taken seriously until Charles Lindberg made a solo flight across the Atlantic ocean. With its unmatchable applicability, the airplane is truly one of the greatest inventions that has changed the world. The Television. The invention of the television dazed people all over the world.

Why are cell phones so popular?

Improved versions of cell phones are constantly available in the market due to the ever-advancing technology. Today, cell phones also perform functions of computers, music players, camera, video recorders, and televisions, and hence, are in great demand.

What is the greatest invention of the 20th century?

The Computer. The computer is the greatest, incomparable invention belonging to the 20th century. There is no single inventor accredited with the invention of the computer, as it was born out of many scientists’, researchers’ and mathematicians’ contribution.

What was the most used communication technique after the radio was invented?

Radio-telegraphy became one of the most used communication techniques after the radio was invented. The AM (Amplitude Modulation) radio was a modification that helped in making access to numerous radio stations possible. The Airplane. After the radio, the airplane ranks as one of the earliest inventions of the 20th century.

What was the 20th century marked by?

The 20th century was marked by progress in every field and walk of life. In this article, you will find a list of the most important inventions of this century that have made our life easier and comfortable. The 20th century was marked by progress in every field and walk of life. In this article, you will find a list of ...

How much of the world owns a cell phone?

The calling rates have also dropped drastically since the time cell phones were first made. Nearly half of the world owns a cell phone today; and it will not be wrong to say that cell phones have replaced telephones or other traditional means of communication.

Who invented the computer?

Charles Babbage is credited with the actual concept of the computer, while Konrad Zuse made the first programmable computer. As further inventions took place, desktop computers, Pentium processors and laptop computers soon came into being. The Internet is also one of the most useful and remarkable inventions of the 20th century.

What would happen if there were no transistors?

Without transistors, modern electronic devices would not exist. From cell phones and computers to televisions and cars, transistors are a crucial part of modern life. Without them, the most advanced piece of technology would resemble something closer to a lightbulb rather than an IBM supercomputer. But what is a transistor? Basically, it is a miniaturized switch, capable of turning an electrical current on or off. Various types of primitive transistors were used throughout the 20th century, but the modern transistor is usually credited as being created in 1947 by a group of American engineers working for Bell Laboratories.

How did rocket technology help people?

Likewise, rocket technology allowed people to enter outer space, and may one day make human colonization of space possible.

Why did the man who nicked his face fall ill?

After receiving permission to administer their medicine the man began to recover, but soon fell ill because the researchers ran out of penicillin, which at the time was very hard to produce in useful quantities. However, new methods soon yielded enough penicillin to cure a variety of infections and became critical to Allied War efforts during WWII, saving the lives of thousands of American soldiers.

What was the first programming language?

FORTRAN was the first widely-used programming language, which did not need the input of actual 1s and 0s in order to complete a program. Digital coding languages continued to evolve through the 1970s until they started to have a noticeable effect on the lives of ordinary people, with the advent of personal computing.

What was the first jet engine?

Work on the first practical jet engine suitable for aviation began in Britain in the late 1920s, and continued a few years later in Germany. As early as 1939, just a few days before the beginning of WWII, a German-built jet airplane was the first to take flight, though mass production was still years away. This was achieved with the Messerschmitt Me 262, which started production in mid-1944. Though this plane was vastly superior to anything other countries were producing, it was manufactured in very small numbers, used too much sophisticated fuel, and was introduced too late to make a difference for the German military.

How many websites were created in 1994?

The digital world began to explode. At the beginning of 1994 there were 700 websites; by the end of the year there were 10,000. The synergistic melding of computer microchip technology, digital coding languages, and mobile technologies gave birth to a world that cannot function without digital codes. From social media to online purchasing, 1s and 0s radically changed the world.

What is digital code?

Fundamentally, digital code relies on a system of 1s and 0s that represent on and off circuits. This simple system allows for all of the digital technology that exists today. The first modern attempts to create such a code occurred in 1949, followed shortly by the advent of FORTRAN in 1951. FORTRAN was the first widely-used programming language, which did not need the input of actual 1s and 0s in order to complete a program. Digital coding languages continued to evolve through the 1970s until they started to have a noticeable effect on the lives of ordinary people, with the advent of personal computing. For the first time personal computers and the digital code they ran on were available to average people. Soon, progressively larger amounts of information was stored digitally, while an increasing amount tasks were able to be accomplished with the use of digital technology.

When was the first toaster invented?

The crispy bread you enjoy in your breakfast is a luxury that only the people who came after the 20th century have enjoyed. There were no toasters before the 20th century. Actually, there was the Eclipse Toaster that was invented in 1893 by Alan MacMaster in Scotland. However, the first official toaster in the USA was made by Frank Shailor in 1909 and he is the one who got the patent for it. These toasters did not pop-up automatically. In fact, the user had to turn over the bread himself and once the bread was toasted, the device had to be turned off by hand too. A pop-up toaster only came in the market in 1919 after being invented by Charles Strite.

What did the Wright brothers do to the world?

As for the works of the Wright brothers, they did lay roots of the craft that has made it a piece of cake to travel to the other side of the world. The mere invention of airplanes contributed to the increased rates of trade, tourism, and lots of other good things.

How many inventions are there?

Although there have been hundreds of remarkable inventions, this list has only covered 23. These include some of the most used items along with a few miraculous inventions that no one had ever even imagined of.

What were the first rockets used for?

The earlier rockets were mere weapons of war, used to shoot arrows. However, after the 20th century, they became much bigger and stronger. Newton’s cradle and the second law of motion were just some of the theories used by scientists to explain that reaching the moon was possible.

Why are submarines important?

Submarines got a glow-up in the 20th century. They became an important weapon during the WW2. Today, the submarine paired with nuclear power is more powerful than one can imagine. The submarines used by the navy forces worldwide have an unlimited shooting range. Other than their use during wars, submarines also play a huge role in scientific research.

What are the most important inventions of the 20th century?

Top 10 Inventions of the 20th Century. Hold tight as this is going to be a venturesome ride through the 20th century! 1. Airplanes. In the 20th century, humankind touched the sky, literally. The credit is given to the Wright brothers who made the first flying airplan e in 1903.

Why do we have GPS?

The only reason we have access to GPS is that rockets put satellites in space. Moreover, the majority of what our cell phones offer is all because of rockets. Although rockets have been around in China since the 10th century, the true use of rockets only began in the 20th century.

How does a gas turbine work?

The principle of the gas turbine is that of compressing and burning air and fuel in a combustion chamber and using the exhaust jet from this process to provide the reaction that propels the engine forward. In its turbopropeller form, which developed only after World War II, the exhaust drives a shaft carrying a normal airscrew (propeller).

What is the purpose of a gas turbine?

As far as fuel is concerned, the gas turbine burns mainly the middle fractions (kerosene, or paraffin) of refined oil, but the general tendency of its widespread application was to increase still further the dependence of the industrialized nations on the producers of crude oil, which became a raw material of immense economic value and international political significance. The refining of this material itself underwent important technological development. Until the 20th century it consisted of a fairly simple batch process whereby oil was heated until it vaporized, when the various fractions were distilled separately. Apart from improvements in the design of the stills and the introduction of continuous-flow production, the first big advance came in 1913 with the introduction of thermal cracking. This process took the less volatile fractions after distillation and subjected them to heat under pressure, thus cracking the heavy molecules into lighter molecules and so increasing the yield of the most valuable fuel, petrol or gasoline. The discovery of this ability to tailor the products of crude oil to suit the market marks the true beginning of the petrochemical industry. It received a further boost in 1936, with the introduction of catalytic cracking. By the use of various catalysts in the process, means were devised for still further manipulating the molecules of the hydrocarbon raw material. The development of modern plastics followed directly on this ( see below Plastics ). So efficient had the processes of utilization become that by the end of World War II the petrochemical industry had virtually eliminated all waste materials.

What was the dividing point between the years 1900 and 1945?

In venturing to interpret the events of the 20th century, it will be convenient to separate the years before 1945 from those that followed. The years 1900 to 1945 were dominated by the two World Wars, while those since 1945 were preoccupied by the need to avoid another major war. The dividing point is one of outstanding social and technological significance: the detonation of the first atomic bomb at Alamogordo, New Mexico, in July 1945.

How did the two World Wars affect the development of technology?

It has been said that World War I was a chemists’ war, on the basis of the immense importance of high explosives and poison gas. In other respects the two wars hastened the development of technology by extending the institutional apparatus for the encouragement of innovation by both the state and private industry. This process went further in some countries than in others, but no major belligerent nation could resist entirely the need to support and coordinate its scientific-technological effort. The wars were thus responsible for speeding the transformation from “little science,” with research still largely restricted to small-scale efforts by a few isolated scientists, to “big science,” with the emphasis on large research teams sponsored by governments and corporations, working collectively on the development and application of new techniques. While the extent of this transformation must not be overstated, and recent research has tended to stress the continuing need for the independent inventor at least in the stimulation of innovation, there can be little doubt that the change in the scale of technological enterprises had far-reaching consequences. It was one of the most momentous transformations of the 20th century, for it altered the quality of industrial and social organization. In the process it assured technology, for the first time in its long history, a position of importance and even honour in social esteem.

What was the 20th century?

The 20th century witnessed a colossal expansion of electrical power generation and distribution. The general pattern has been toward ever-larger units of production, using steam from coal- or oil-fired boilers. Economies of scale and the greater physical efficiency achieved as higher steam temperatures and pressures were attained both reinforced ...

Why is recent history so difficult to write?

Recent history is notoriously difficult to write, because of the mass of material and the problem of distinguishing the significant from the insignificant among events that have virtually the power of contemporary experience. In respect to the recent history of technology, however, one fact stands out clearly: despite the immense achievements of technology by 1900, the following decades witnessed more advance over a wide range of activities than the whole of previously recorded history. The airplane, the rocket and interplanetary probes, electronics, atomic power, antibiotics, insecticides, and a host of new materials have all been invented and developed to create an unparalleled social situation, full of possibilities and dangers, which would have been virtually unimaginable before the present century.

When was the gas turbine invented?

The theory of the gas turbine, however, had been understood since the 1920s at least, and in 1929 Sir Frank Whittle, then taking a flying instructor’s course with the Royal Air Force, combined it with the principle of jet propulsion in the engine for which he took out a patent in the following year.

What were the major advances in medical technology in the 20th century?

Let’s examine a few of the most important major medical advances of the 20th century: X-ray Technology. In 1895, a German professor named William Roentgen captured the first x-ray image, a photo of the bones in his wife’s hand. His realization that electromagnetic radiation could transfer through soft tissue and create images of the inside ...

What was the life expectancy of a baby in the 20th century?

Even after that crucial first year, the average life expectancy of an American was less than 50 years. However, thanks to certain advances, the resources available to us ...

What is the average life expectancy of an American?

Even after that crucial first year, the average life expectancy of an American was less than 50 years. However, thanks to certain advances, the resources available to us to treat patients have sharply improved the longevity and quality of life of Americans.

How has X-ray technology changed the world?

X-ray technology has changed the medical world by providing doctors with a non-invasive way to make a diagnosis and treat a patient. We also use Roentgen’s discovery of radiation to treat of some of humankind’s most severe diseases, such as tumors, blood clots, and other blockages. Insulin.

Why is penicillin considered a top candidate for antibiotics?

There is no question as to why penicillin is a top candidate on our list. At the dawn of the 20th century, infectious disease was the leading cause of death, accounting for one-third of all fatalities. In 1928, Alexander Fleming accidentally contaminated a petri dish, and then noticed that the resulting mold prevented the growth of the bacteria. This “Eureka!” moment led to the development of antibiotics that has saved an estimated 20 million lives.

Is infant mortality better than 1900?

Now, the infant mortality rate is 60 times better than it was in 1900, and our life expectancy is upwards of 79. The health breakthroughs and major medical advances of the 20th century were so dramatic that if we could mirror the same catalyst in other cultural arenas (such as politics and economics), many of our world’s greatest problems would be ...

Development of Antibiotics

In the early 20th century, Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin. Ever since this discovery, antibiotics have played a major role in modern medicine. Diseases that once killed millions of people can now be controlled through the use of antibiotics.

Vitamin Supplements

Due to vitamin deficiency, many people in the early 20th century fell to diseases like scurvy and beriberi. In some cases, these diseases were difficult to treat due to shortages of certain foods. Fortunately, the creation of vitamin supplements largely eliminated this issue.

Placebo Controlled, Randomized, Blinded Clinical Trials

While clinical trials have taken place since the 1700s, the first blinded, controlled, and randomized clinical trial took place in the early 20th century. Due to the use of placebos, randomization, and other tactics, clinical trials have become far more accurate and dependable.

Development of X-Rays

Not only can x-rays be used to identify diseases of the bone, they can also detect diseases of the soft tissue. Some of these diseases include pneumonia, kidney stones, and lung cancer. In the 20th century, a more efficient vacuum tube was developed for the x-ray machine to make it more efficient.

Advances in Cancer Treatment

In the 20th century, both chemotherapy and radiotherapy were developed as treatments for cancer. Before the development of these treatments, the vast majority of people who developed cancer died of the disease without any hope of being cured.