They Changed the World Trivia Quiz

Answer: Typewriter

William Austin Burt is usually credited as being the patented inventor of the very first typewriter. He and his invention were far ahead of their time and the invention was not really successful. It was not until his great-grandson was an adult that the invention became more successful.

Answer: Television

American inventor, Philo Farnsworth, is just one person credited with being the first person to create an electronic television device. Scottish inventor John Logie Baird is also given the same credit. In reality, television was the work of many brilliant minds. At the time of his death in 1971 Farnsworth held over 160 patents, mostly in the fields of television and radio.

Answer: Cotton Gin

The cotton gin was a machine designed to remove the seeds from cotton. Created in 1794, by Eli Whitney, his creation used the ideas for other such machines that were just not practical or did not do a satisfactory job. The cotton industry in the southern U.S. exploded and made cotton much easier to produce and sell.

Answer: Velcro

George de Mestral was a Swiss engineer, credited with the creation of the fastener known today as Velcro. This invention was not popular when originally created, mostly because of aesthetic reasons. It was not until his patent expired in 1978, that his creation became popular. The space industry was one of its biggest fans, using it long before the clothing and shoe industry did.

Answer: Windshield wipers

American inventor Mary Anderson, is credited with the creation of windshield wipers in 1905. Anderson is yet another inventor who was ahead or his/her time. At that time, there was not much of a demand for her creation. VERY few people owned cars and those that had been created did not run much over 10 mph.

It was not until the 1950s, after her patent had expired, that automobile companies took a look at her creation, realized its importance and began building them into every car they made.

Answer: Steam Engine

James Watt is credited as the inventor of the modern steam engine, which was critical in the industrial revolution. There were many inventors attempting to make steam engines practical. Watt added a separate condensing chamber which greatly improved the efficiency of steam. Watt's improvements were a giant step forward.

Answer: Piano

Italian musician and inventor Bartolomeo Cristofori (1655-1731) is usually credited with the creation of the modern piano. This highly versatile instrument is used in almost all genres of music. Cristofori's sophisticated designs were very intricate and after his death, other instrument makes tried for years to equal the quality of the original Cristofori piano.

Answer: Liquid Paper

After World War II, the use of electric typewriters became widespread. While they were much easier to type with, fixing an error was next to impossible. On manual typewriters a pencil eraser could be used. Secretary Bette Nesmith Graham invented Liquid Paper which was essentially a latex paint for painting over a mistake so it could be typed over.

Answer: Zipper

Swedish-American inventor Gideon Sundback created the first zipper in 1917. It was described as a "continuous clothing closure". It took a while for the zipper to catch on as fancy buttons had been used for years in rich folk's clothes and string ties on everyone else's. It's popularity came from its use in boots, ladies purses, and tobacco pouches.

Answer: Phonograph

Emile Berliner was a German inventor who is credited with creating the gramophone, the first phonograph. While making improvements to the first telephone, which had just been invented by Alexander Graham Bell, he was inspired to make the phonograph as well as the first phonograph record.