I learned about four inventions this week and they were the microphone, the typewriter, the Braille reading system, and the sewing machine. First, I learned about the microphone. Theater plays went back all the way to ancient Greece, but there was one problem, it was hard to hear their voices from a distance. The inventor of the microphone was Charles Wheatstone who was born in England in 1802.  He built his own battery for experimentation and learned that sound is caused by vibrating pressure waves. A microphone is a device that converts sound into electricity. It has a diaphragm attached to the coil and sound waves cause the diaphragm to move the coil. A diaphragm is a dome shaped part separating the thorax from the abdomen. Wheatstone’s efforts led to the modern microphone. 

Second, I learned about the typewriter. The inventor of the typewriter was William Austin Burt. He was born in Massachusetts in 1792 and became fascinated with sailing. He developed studies in science to help people and invented astronomical instruments. Typewriters impact neat writing into paper and people can type faster than they can write. Burt’s typewriter wasn’t successful in his lifetime but in 1850 it became very successful.

Third, I learned about the braille reading system. As a child, Louis Braille, born in France in 1809, damaged his eye when playing in his fathers leather shop, causing an infection to spread to the other eye. Braille’s reading system allows blind people to read at standard speeds and improved reading speed. The Braille reading system was inspired by Charles Barbier’s secret military communication system. The Braille reading system contains 6 raised dots in different patterns. Braille published books on his new reading system. Braille helps blind people escape poverty and let blind people read 200 words per minute.

Finally, I learned about the sewing machine. The inventor of the sewing machine was Barthelemy Thimonnier who was born in France in 1793. He opened a factory to produce military uniforms for the military and his factory survived almost 200 years. Sewing machines stitch fabric together mechanically and form a very strong connection. Sewing machines spread throughout France. By 1844, John Fisher improved the model. Clothing manufacturers bought them and clothing making moved from home to factories.