Great Inventions That Changed the World

by Wei, James

• ISBN13: 9780470768174
• ISBN10: 0470768177
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2012-07-24
• Publisher: Wiley-AIChE

Summary

Written by one of the worlds great engineers, this book provides the curious with an explanation of how inventions have developed from human needs and desires. Chapters discuss the impacts of inventions in our work, personal lives, societies, and the environment. The text also outlines what steps we need to take to ensure continued success of new inventions, and how to mange them wisely. Based on a Princeton University course for a general audience, this book lays out a means for understanding yesterday and todays inventions, and paves the way for tomorrows innovations.

Author Biography

JAMES WEI, PhD, began his career as a research scientist for Mobil Oil in 1955. Since then, he has held academic positions at the University of Delaware, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and was Dean of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Princeton University. Dr. Wei is the author of eight books and more than 130 research papers. He also holds two U.S. patents and is the former president of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE).

Table of Contents

Foreward

Preface

Introduction

Inventors and Inventions

Innovation, Development, Diffusion

Changing the World

Inventions for Work

Tools and Methods

Energy and Power

Materials

Domestic Life: Food, Clothes, House

Food

Clothes

House

Health, Reproduction

Prevention

Diagnostics

Therapy

Reproduction

Security

Nature Threats

Economic Threats

Human Violence, War

Transportation

Land Transportation

Water Transportation

Air and Space Transportation

Information

Observation

Records

Communication

Information Tools

Good Life

Party, Play

Luxury

Arts

Future Challenges

Future Needs and Opportunities

Future Sources of Inventions

References

Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.