Technological Advancements in the 1920s
Background
During the 1920s, ideas and inventions on which scientists and engineers had been working for years came out of the developmental stage and entered people’s lives for the first time. For instance, the automobile became a fixture of everyday American life. (Source)
Table of Contents
This website will host seven different artifacts that represent a major technological development during this era.
Artifacts
1. Radios (Source)
This image shows one of the early radios. It is important to this topic because in the 1920’s radio was starting to dominate the the entertainment and news industry, taking over the traditional mediums.
2. Improvements in Household Technology (Source)
This image shows a newspaper advertisement about a new Electric Washer product. This is important to this topic because for the first time in history, people could let the machines do the work, saving people’s time.
3. IBM’s Punchcards (Source)
This image shows one of the first punch cards for the Data Processing machines that IBM created. This is significant because these punch cards and data processing machines were the predecessor to the modern computer that powers the world.
4. The Tri-Motor Airplane (Source)
This image shows the Ford Tri-Motor invented in 1926. This is significant because it revolutionized air travel; this airplane allowed up to 10 passengers to be transported on a single plane. The plane was also much faster than planes that came before it.
5. The Traffic Light (Source)
This illustration shows the patent of the first Traffic Light. This is significant because in the early days of the automobile, accidents were very common, this invention helps reduces car accidents.
6. Hydro Electricity (Source 1) (Source 2)
This image shows a map of the Niagara Region in the 1920s. This map is significant because at the time, Hydro electricity was being developed, and it was essential to provide light and power to urban areas and factories.
7. Telecommunications (Source)
This image shows one of the first telephones. This is significant because prior to the 1920s telephones were more of a hobby than other ways of communication; during the 1920s this finally changed, and the telephone was entering the mainstream.
Conclusion
How did advancements in technology during the Great War Era change the lives of Canadians?
The 1920s were a period of rapid change. Technologies like radio and home appliances helped with daily life, while the inventions of computing devices allowed businesses to be better managed and more efficient. At the end of the era, many traditional practices were being taken over by new technology. For example, radio news gained enormous popularity which replaced some of the need for print newspaper. Other technologies were invented to improve the safety of existing ones, such as the traffic light, to reduce road accidents. During this period, the government also built tech infrastructure such as telecommunications and developed the power grid. This era laid down the foundations for many of the technologies that the modern era depends on and had a big impact on the quality of life of Canadians and people around the world.
Bibliography
(Due to technical limitations, the bibliography is made in Google Docs to preserve proper formatting)
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fqLx_E6mFav8BWfY12Tn0fue97kkEL-9YV0ESRx925Q/edit?usp=sharing