Inventions
If “necessity is the mother of invention”, then its father could possibly be curiosity, or imagination, or determination, or maybe even luck. The truth is many factors must align for an individual to invent something that is truly innovative and revolutionary. As long as Man has been on planet Earth, he has learnt and developed ways to hunt, cook, build shelter, kill and communicate to fulfill his basic needs and improve his way of life. Necessity gives birth to inventions. We invent because we need to. Curiosity is the natural inquisitive behavior that leads to the investigation, exploration and learning which in turn are the first steps towards an invention.
The opening sentence has elements of humor when the writer talks about “father” of invention. The use of the inclusive “we” in this opening paragraph together with the tone and choice of words make the writing sound almost conversational.
If Alexander Graham Bell had not been curious about how to get people to communicate easily, the telephone may not have been invented in 1876. The invention of the telephone has changed the way people converse, making communication more efficient and immediate. The telephone has allowed people to interact and share information effortlessly even across millions of miles. This, in turn, has changed the way social relationships and social interaction take place, making the world seem a smaller place, with families more connected and communities more accessible. If not for the telephone, a whole host of modern day inventions such as a cellular phone and the Internet, both critical sources of information and communication in the 21st century, may not even exist today. Now that’s food for thought.
Let’s go back even further in time, to Ancient China. China was the first country in the world to make paper. The invention of papermaking is one of China’s most significant contributions to the spread and the development of human civilization. Cai Lun of the Eastern Han Dynasty (50 AD-121) successfully invented the world’s first batch of paper using a strange mixture of fishnets, tree bark, bits of hemp and rags. Before paper was invented, the ancient Chinese carved characters on animal bones, pottery and stones, cast them in bronze or wrote them on silk fabric, wooden strips or bamboo. However, these materials were either too heavy or too expensive for widespread use. The invention and use of paper brought a revolution in writing and paved the way for the invention of printing technology. This is why you are able to read this essay on Inventions!
These inventions have stood the test of time, demonstrating that humans are an ingenious and resourceful species, constantly evolving and adapting to their environments. However, not all inventions have been results of deliberate innovation, and not all discoveries were solutions meant to resolve problems. In many cases, a great invention was a matter of sheer luck. For instance, the ubiquitous Post-it Notes were a result of a failed invention. In 1970, 3M research laboratories were trying to create a strong adhesive. Scientist Dr. Spencer Silver attempted to develop a super-strong adhesive, but ended up accidentally creating a weak, recyclable, pressure-sensitive adhesive. For five years, Dr. Silver tried to promote this adhesive but failed. In 1974, fellow scientist Art Fry came up with the idea of using an adhesive to affix his bookmark in his hymnbook, inadvertently discovering that his marker would stay in place, yet could be removed without damaging the pages and that was how “Post-it Notes” came to existence. In 1980, 3M began distributing “Post-it Notes” nationwide, making it one of the most prevalent and used office products.
This paragraph provides a short narrative about Dr. Silver and the 3M adhesives. This insertion of a narrative within an information text is an example of a “hybrid” essay.