Sunday August 3rd, 2008 Inventions

Necessity is the mother of invention. To invent requires creativity, ingeniousness, knowledge and a great deal of persistence. Many of the most famous inventions came about as a solution to a problem or to fill a need. Some remarkable products have been developed merely by accident. A lot of these articles or processes we take for granted
are worth a closer look.

Such a simple object yet with a long and interesting history. Used to record daily activities, note appointments, jot down a phone number or create an elaborate sketch. The functions are endless. Why are pencils always painted yellow and hexagonal in shape? What is pencil lead made of and what kind of wood was used to wrap it? This book has the answers. A single pencil can draw a line 70 miles long. Try it and see if it's true. Fourteen billion pencils are manufactured each year. You probably have one on your desk right now. The Pencil, A History Of Design And Circumstance by Henry Petroski is jam-packed with technical and historical information, more than you will ever need to know about this versatile instrument.

In 1946, Percy Spencer reached into the pocket of his lab coat for a magnetron, a tube that powers radar systems. Also inside his pocket was a chocolate bar which had melted into a sticky mess. It was soon discovered that the chocolate bar had been melted by microwaves that were being emitted from the magnetron. From this small discovery evolved the first microwave ovens patented in 1949. In the book Inventing Modern America, author David Brown explores numerous inventions over the last century contributing to our work, health, environment and our ability to communicate.

A number of very famous inventions are attributed to Canadians; Alexander Graham Bell and the telephone, the Canadarm by Spar Aerospace, the game of Trivial Pursuit by Chris Haney and Scott Abbott, Canada Dry Ginger Ale in 1907 by John McLaughlin, the external pacemaker by John Hopps. For a more detailed look at some of Canada's creations, try Canadian Inventions, Fantastic Feats & Quirky Contraptions by Lisa Wojna.

Female inventors have also made significant contributions in the world of inventions. Patently Female by Ethlie Vare and Greg Ptacek showcases many of these achievements. The first automatic dishwasher, drip coffeemaker, carpet sweeper, tv dinner and sewing machine were all the results and efforts of women to support a practical need. However, not all inventions by women were related to housework. Kevlar, most commonly used in bullet proof vests is credited to chemist Stephanie Kwolek. AZT, the first effective drug for the treatment of Aids was discovered by chemist Janet Rideout. Donna Shirley invented the first mars rover, Sojourner Truth, a mechanized robot used to traverse the planet collecting important data.

Recently, CBC has produced a television show designed to showcase various products and inventions by Canadian entrepreneurs looking for monetary help to market and produce their items. Called Dragon's Den, applicants appear before a panel of successful Canadian business people, pitching the wonders of their product in hopes of securing production funds. Some of the products or inventions are quite humorous and provide good television entertainment, while others are good ideas and are negotiated on by the panel. These proven business experts are often ruthless and for good reason; it is their own personal funds at stake. This past April auditions for the Dragon's Den were held in Thunder Bay. Did you make the cut? The third season of this popular television show will begin airing sometime in October.

If you have a unique product or invention perhaps you may need to protect it from being copied. To do this you will require a patent. While the process may seem daunting and somewhat costly, if your item is a one of a kind it may be worth your time and money. The Canadian Intellectual Property Office website, a government agency of Industry Canada, has detailed information on patents. It can be found at http://www.cipo.ic.gc.ca Their faq page answers such questions as what is a patent, how to apply for one, do I need a patent, and how long is a patent effective.

If your interest in inventors and their inventions has been tweaked, check out the many resources available @ your library.

Michelle Paziuk, Library Technician, Brodie Resource Library