Timeline of Everyday Inventions
Updated February 21, 2017 | Factmonster Staff 
Copycats
 Arttoday.com |
- 1875
- Typewriter
- 1900
- Photocopying (camera takes a photo of an original)
- 1906
- Photostats (copies made on light-sensitive paper instead of film)
- 1938
- Xerography (a dry process, with no liquid developer)
- 1938
- Tape recorder
- 1963
- Home video recorder
- 1988
- Facsimile (fax) machine
What Counts
 |
- 3000 B.C.
- Abacus (board with beads for mathematical functions)
- 1623 A.D.
- Mechanical calculator
- 1642
- Adding machine
- 1946
- Electronic computer
- 1963
- Disk storage for computer
- 1969
- The Internet
- 1970
- Floppy disk
- 1971
- Pocket calculator
- 1972
- Compact disk
- 1975
- Desktop computer
- 1976
- Apple computer
- 1981
- IBM Personal computer
- 1984
- Laserdisc storage
- 1998
- More than 20 percent of all U.S. households are online
- 1995
- DVD (digital video disk)
For information on the origins of the Internet, see the Internet Timeline.
Let There Be Light
- 1906
- Light bulbs (tungsten)
- 1910
- Neon light
- 1915
- Searchlight arc
- 1936
- Fluorescent light
- 1960
- Laser light used in U.S.
High-Tech Talking
- 1876
- Telephone patented
- 1893
- Motion pictures (movies)
- 1899
- Tape recorder
- 1927
- Television
- 1933
- FM radio
- 1951
- Long-distance dialing in the U.S.
- 1956
- Transatlantic telephone cable
- 1963
- Pushbutton telephone in U.S.
- Home video recorder
- 1972
- Compact disk
- 1979
- Sony Walkman
- 1983
- Cellular phones in U.S.: mobile phones for cars, transportable phones carried in a case, and portable phones carried in hand
- 1994
- Digital camera
- 1995
- DVD (digital video disk)
- 2003
- Camera phones
Making Life Easier: Household Heroes
 Library of Congress |
- 1810
- Canned food is introduced.
- 1834
- The first refrigerator is invented.
- 1836
- Gas stoves are used in homes.
- 1869
- Margarine is produced.
- 1901
- Electric washing machine is invented.
- 1906
- The lightbulb is introduced.
- 1907
- Electric vacuum cleaner is introduced.
- 1909
- Electric toaster is made.
- 1911
- Air conditioning is invented.
- 1928
- Sliced bread is introduced.
- 1940
- Automatic dishwasher is manufactured.
- 1967
- Compact microwave ovens are sold.
Bits and Pieces
| A 13-year-old boy received a patent for biodegradable golf tees in 1991. |
- 1832
- Matches
- 1845
- Rubber bands
- 1879
- Mechanical pencil
- 1888
- Ball-point pen
- 1900
- Paper clips
- 1937
- Cellophane tape
- 1960
- Felt-tip pens
- 1980
- Post-It Notes
For more inventions, see Inventions & Discoveries.
See also:
