Jamie Notter once said “innovation is change that unlocks new value.” Innovation is an important part of improving society and many shows like Shark Tank and Make Me a Millionaire Inventor are eager to get new innovations to the world. In the past 50 years there have been many inventions across medical and technological fields that have benefitted society.
Pop up Toaster with a Timer: Before toasters were made with a timer, people had to remove the bread for it to stop toasting. This meant that not only would someone have to be near the toaster while it was cooking to remove it when needed, but there was also a lot of burnt toast. The Product and Service Design Consultancy says that during World War I Charles Strife “became irritated with the burned toast that was served in the cafeteria.” To fix this issue he decided to make a pop-up toaster that operated on a timer. Doing this allowed for people to have control about how much their bread is toasted, but also freed up time because they do not have to stand by the toaster.
Solar Energy: Solar Energy is a renewable and sustainable form of energy that can be used to generate electricity. Energy Matters, a solar panel company, tells of how in the 1800’s they heated water to create steam for machines by using solar energy. This form of solar energy was not effective for large scale use and the type of solar energy cells that is used today weren’t invented until 1953. According to Experience, an energy and utilities website, in the 1950’s and 1960’s NASA started using solar energy to power their satellites. Satellites powered by solar energy have done many things for space exploration and earth studies including taking pictures of earth from space. Solar energy also allows for the reduction of greenhouse gases and a cut back on fossil fuels.
DNA Sequencing: The various uses of DNA sequencing originated with the discovery of the double helix. Genetics is a popular form of DNA sequencing . Using genetics, scientists can find different traits a person will have as well as how their DNA will combine. Another way DNA sequencing is used is to diagnose diseases. “DNA Sequencing” says there are continued efforts in the innovation of DNA Sequencing to improve treatment and aims to “give patients precise personalized treatment developed on the basis of that patient’s unique DNA sequence.”
In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF): In-Vitro Fertilization is used when parents have difficulty conceiving a child. Medical Dictionary defines In-Vitro Fertilization as “a procedure in which eggs (ova) from a woman’s ovaries are removed. They are fertilized with sperm in a laboratory procedure, and then the fertilized egg (embryo) is returned to the woman’s uterus.” It is mainly used for couples with fertility problems but it can also be used to preserves eggs in case of future infertilization. Celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Sofia Vergara have chosen to use IVF to freeze their eggs in case of fertilization complications in the future. IVF has had a large impact on society with it enabling infertile couples to be able to have a child of their own and it’s growing popularity among celebrities has also brought more light to the growing issue of infertilization.
These innovations have had large impacts on society, benefitting the technological and medical fields as well as everyday life.