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M$1 July 05, 2009 03:40 PM

Who was the best inventor of all time? What separates them from all the other inventors the world has seen?

Tough question I think this one, but here are some examples:
Charles Babbage, Semi Automatic Computer - Would we have Mahalo without him?
John Logie Baird, Television
Thomas Edison, Ligtbulb, Fluoroscopy, etc
Samuel Morse, Telegraph and Morse Code

There's many more. It will be interesting to see who you think was the best inventor of all time and why?
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Interesting: jeffhoard, brian san, marcand

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Best Answer  Chosen by Asker

 
July 05, 2009 08:35 PM
http://www.biografiasyvidas.com/biografia/l/fotos/leonardo.jpg

The best inventor of all time was perhaps the most remarkable scientist of the last 20 centuries, Leonardo DaVinci. Regarded as the epitome of the "Renaissance Man", displaying skills in many and diverse areas. He was an Italian polymath, anatomist, architect, astronomer, botanist, chemist, engineer, inventor, mathematician, musician, painter, scientist, sculptor and writer. The areas of his scientific study also included aeronautics, civil engineering, geology, geometry, hydrodynamics, mechanical engineering, optics, physics, pyrotechnics and zoology. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest painters of all time and perhaps the most diversely talented person ever to have lived. His inventions reveal a man who was far ahead of his time.

Quote from "en.wikipedia.org"

---Quote---
Helen Gardner says "The scope and depth of his interests were without precedent...His mind and personality seems to us superhuman, the man himself mysterious and remote".

Leonardo is revered for his technological ingenuity. He conceptualized a helicopter, a tank, concentrated solar power, a calculator, the double hull and outlined a rudimentary theory of plate tectonics. Relatively few of his designs were constructed or were even feasible during his lifetime, but some of his smaller inventions, such as an automated bobbin winder and a machine for testing the tensile strength of wire, entered the world of manufacturing unheralded. As a scientist, he greatly advanced the state of knowledge in the fields of anatomy, civil engineering, optics, and hydrodynamics.

Whilst the full extent of his scientific studies has only become recognized in the last 150 years, he was, during his lifetime, employed for his engineering and skill of invention. Many of his designs, such as the movable dykes to protect Venice from invasion, proved too costly or impractical. Some of his smaller inventions entered the world of manufacturing unheralded. As an engineer, Leonardo conceived ideas vastly ahead of his own time, conceptually inventing the helicopter, the tank, the submarine, the parachute the use of concentrated solar power, a calculator, a rudimentary theory of plate tectonics and the double hull. In practice, he greatly advanced the state of knowledge in the fields of anatomy, astronomy, civil engineering, optics, and the study of water (hydrodynamics).

Leonardo's most famous drawing, the Vitruvian Man, is a study of the proportions of the human body, linking art and science in a single work that has come to represent Renaissance Humanism.
---Quote---

Among his many inventions:

1) Toilet
2) Scissors
3) Machine Gun
4) Helicopter
5) Tank
6) Submarine
7) Contact Lenses
8) Paddleboat
9) Glider
10) Flying Machine
11) Napkin
12) Self-propelling cart
13) Odometer
14) Compass
15) Articulated Transportable Elevator
16) Mechanical Saw

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Da_Vinci_Vitruve_Luc_Viatour.jpg/441px-Da_Vinci_Vitruve_Luc_Viatour.jpg
"The Vitruvian Man" quite possibly the best known drawing in the world.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/Leonardo_da_Vinci_parachute_04659a.jpg/450px-Leonardo_da_Vinci_parachute_04659a.jpg
Model of Leonardo´s Parachute.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/DaVinciTankAtAmboise.jpeg/800px-DaVinciTankAtAmboise.jpeg
Model of a Tank by Leonardo.
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo_da_Vinci

http://www.leonardo3.net/

Asker's Rating:
• Fantastic answer, well above and beyond and went on to win answer of the day for 6th July. This was well deserved.

I hope to see more answers from @pixelsilva like this.

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July 06, 2009 01:50 AM
sewing machine! awesome!!

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July 06, 2009 08:56 AM
A brilliant answer, I learned a lot from this. Possibly "answer of the day" material"

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July 05, 2009 05:36 PM
I think the best inventor of all time was the first Neanderthal that made fire. Fire was the one thing that allowed for "humans" to develop, keep predators away, provide light at night, keep them warm and cook food.

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July 05, 2009 05:36 PM
I'll give it to Thomas Edison for inventing the concept of product development. This is unlike any other inventor, and was the beginning of Research and Development programs, a concept that has revolutionized the business and consumer world.

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July 05, 2009 06:05 PM
Although you may be looking for a particular name - I propose that the greatest inventor would be the one who invented the written word, for without this, our level of education would be limited to "passing down" by word of mouth. It's ashame that we don't know who that was.

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July 05, 2009 06:55 PM
My votes goes to Thomas elva edison . He has got numerous inventions under his belt . The best part of Edison was that he didnt have much of qualification but with sheer perseverance he could invent so many things

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July 05, 2009 10:39 PM
Nikola Tesla. There are over 700 patents in his name today for the inventions he had. Some quotes from Wikipedia about him (to simplify this for me): “He is best known for many revolutionary contributions in the field of electricity and magnetism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Tesla's patents and theoretical work formed the basis of modern alternating current electric power (AC) systems, including the polyphase power distribution systems and the AC motor, with which he helped usher in the Second Industrial Revolution.

After his demonstration of wireless communication (radio) in 1894 and after being the victor in the "War of Currents", he was widely respected as one of the greatest electrical engineers who worked in America. Much of his early work pioneered modern electrical engineering and many of his discoveries were of groundbreaking importance. During this period, in the United States, Tesla's fame rivaled that of any other inventor or scientist in history or popular culture, but due to his eccentric personality and his seemingly unbelievable and sometimes bizarre claims about possible scientific and technological developments, Tesla was ultimately ostracized and regarded as a mad scientist.

Aside from his work on electromagnetism and electromechanical engineering, Tesla contributed in varying degrees to the establishment of robotics, remote control, radar and computer science, and to the expansion of ballistics, nuclear physics,8 and theoretical physics. In 1943, the Supreme Court of the United States credited him as being the inventor of the radio.9

“Tesla claims he was offered $50000 ($1.1 million adjusted for inflation.) if he redesigned Edison's inefficient motor and generators, making an improvement in both service and economy.22:54-57 Tesla said he worked night and day on the project and gave the Edison Company several profitable new patents in the process. In 1885 when Tesla inquired about the payment for his work, Edison replied, "Tesla, you don't understand our American humor," thus breaking his word.2930

One of the biggest contributions here is the AC motor, which basically allows us to have electrical currents that run as we know them (Edison wanted DC which is basically useless except in small, battery operated equipment).

Random things that Tesla invented that are pretty necessary for today’s way of life:
Hydroelectric power plant
X-ray tubes
Tesla coil (used in many TVs and radios)
Bladeless steam turbine

Also, discoveries of his (that led to inventions):
“fluorescent light , laser beam, wireless communications, wireless transmission of electrical energy, remote control, robotics, Tesla’s turbines, and vertical takeoff aircraft.”

It would take an entire book to just cover what the effects of all his inventions were, but what it comes down to is that there is no way modern living would be possible without him.
Source(s):
http://www.teslasociety.com/biography.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikola_Tesla


Tags: tesla, nikola

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July 06, 2009 08:57 AM
Well done, you put a lot of effort into this answer.

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July 06, 2009 12:08 AM
How about Marion Donovan who invented the disposable diaper.

or

How about Arthur Melin. He is inventor of the Hula Hoop which is the standard for which all fads are compared. He was also responsible for such classics as the frisbee and slip and slide. You know ..... for the kids.

Source(s):
http://www.women-inventors.com/Marion-Donovan.asp


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July 06, 2009 01:50 AM
Edison! for electrical devices

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July 06, 2009 10:13 AM
Leonardo da Vinci without any doubt he is responsible for at least 100 inventions in the following diverse fields of study. Leonardo conceived ideas vastly ahead of his own time including the helicopter, the tanker, calculator, solar power, optics and hydro-dynamics.

He was a a Polymath Par Excellence.The areas of his scientific study included aeronautics, anatomy, astronomy, botany, civil engineering, chemistry, geology, geometry, hydrodynamics, mathematics, mechanical engineering, optics, physics, pyrotechnics and zoology.

No one man ever has ever had such a succesful inventing career/ burst of sheer genius ever since.

Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_and_inventions_of_Leonardo_da_Vinci
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_all_of_Leonardo_da_Vinci's_inventions


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