The television is a staple in millions of households around the world, but it hasn’t always been that way. In some ways, it’s hard to believe that TV has only been around for about a century! It’s invention is often credited to Philo Farnsworth, who was a crucial contributor to the development of the all-electronic television because of his invention of the video camera tube – something that he called an “image dissector.” Farnsworth also was the first to show his prototypes publicly and he did so in 1927.
Farnsworth is also known for a number of additional inventions. Here is just a brief look at the highlight’s of this amazing inventor’s career.
1. An Improved Automobile Lock
Farnsworth always loved working with machines. He grew up in a log cabin and the generator that gave his house power was old and kept breaking down. As the repairmen would come out to fix the generator, Farnsworth would strike up a conversation with them about the repair. Over time, he was able to fix the family generator all on his own and that led to his love for inventing At the age of 13, he invented a lock that would prevent Ford automobiles from being stolen as easily as his invention won the contest.
2. Milk Sterlization
Farnsworth realized that radio waves had a particular effect on certain organisms. When exposed to high enough concentrations, these organisms would cease to exist. As he used these high exposure rates of radio waves on different items to see their effects, he realized that they could be used to sterilize milk without having to boil the milk first. All of this occurred while fighting RCA for the patent rights to his television, which he eventually won after being paid $1 million by RCA.
3. The Baby Incubator
Although Farnsworth isn’t ultimately given credit for the invention of the baby incubator, it is his research that made this invention be able to come about. By improving neonatal care through the regulation of temperatures and the supplementation of oxygen, the device is still a standard of care that is used in hospitals every day. There are numerous people alive today thanks to the research of Farnsworth in this area and he should be recognized for his contributions in this area.
4. Fusors
Using an electrical field to heat ions, nuclear fusion can be achieved. The most common type of fusor today is the Farnsworth-Hirsch fusor because of its reliable method of creating neutrons. It doesn’t reach the same level of flux that you would see in a nuclear reactor or even a particle accelerator that generates the same levels of neutrons. Today you’ll find these fusors in a number of medical devices because they help doctors diagnose some specific medical conditions.
5. Gastroscopes
In order for a doctor to diagnose digestive tract conditions, they’ve got to be able to see what exactly is going on. They can do so thanks to the gastroscope, which is used when a patient has an endoscopy. The lighted device has a camera on the end of it so a doctor can see the medical condition and modern gastroscopes can even take samples and still photographs of what is seen.
Strong proponent of individual liberty and free speech. My goal is to present information that expands our awareness of crucial issues and exposes the manufactured illusion of freedom that we are sold in America. Question everything because nothing is what it seems.
