In honor of International Women's Day, your Friday Frivolity hosts have a "women" theme this week. There were so many ways to interpret that, and I can't wait to see what the other's have come up with. I decided to go with female inventors that have made my daily life better. I can't imagine what my life would be like without some of them, especially Mrs. Bentz.
Ada Lovelace theorized computer code for Charles Babbage's "Analytic Engine". Translation, in 1843 she came up with the idea for computer codes for the first computer in 1843.
Without her foresight, I might not have this nifty computer to jot down my ideas for you all.
Josephine Cochran invented the first practical dishwasher in 1893 and eventually founded a company to manufacture them that is now known as KitchenAid.
Some in my family like to hand wash their dishes. I am definitely not one of them.
Katharine Blodgett invented non-reflective glass, sometimes called invisible glass. It is used in numerous practical products such as camera lenses telescopes, car windows and glasses.
The anti reflective coating on my glasses, the clear glass in my picture frames and camera lenses... I literally "see" the result of discoveries daily.
Admiral Grace Hopper invented the Computer Language compiler (translates English commands into computer code) and led the team tha developed the first computer language COBOL. She also coined the term "computer bug" and "debugging" when she literally cleaned bugs (moths) out of a room size computer.
Continuing the work Ada Lovelace started more than a century before, Hopper made computers easier to use with the compiler, and creating a computer language that reached across manufacturers sped up the accessability of computers.
Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson conducted the basic scientific research that enabled others to invent the portable fax, touch tone telephone, solar cells, fiber optic cables, and most importantly, caller ID.
Live without caller ID? No. just no. I can't even...
In 1908, Melitta Bentz poked some holes in a brass cup, lined it with a sheet of blotting paper and put in... wait for it... coffee grounds! Yes "Melitta" invented the coffee filter forever changing how we make coffee. And the company she and her husband founded is still in existence today.
I use her invention daily, and I believe the ones in my cupboard now are from her company. I am not a big fan of boiled coffee with bits of grounds in the bottom.
[Tweet "Thank you to these 6 female inventors have made my daily life better. #inventions #women"]
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Lisa is an awesomely hilarious and authentic writer who marches to her own drum on her blog Syncopated Mama, providing an "un-labelly spot" for all the happily off-beat folks out there who have been wishing to find kindred spirits. She shares her adventures building a natural home, teaching her adorbs daughter, establishing and refining positive communication skills, camping, creating, cooking, and so much more! Lisa gives us 10 Ways to Make Nursery Rhymes more fun in her latest post.
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Now time for the new stuff!
Lisa/Syncopated Mama says
Ding! Ding! Ding! I knew it! I'd thought about choosing inventors, then made a bet (with myself, but still) that you'd do that, so I switched mine up a little. I love it!
Audrey says
I was actually going to do something else then switched to inventors at the last minute thinking it would be faster and easier. It wasn't. 🙂
Jamie @ Medium Sized Family says
Hey, thanks for the feature! I love your Bingo tie in...I might have to use that! 🙂 Very cool info on the women who are (were) *much* smarter than I. 🙂
Audrey says
Blackout! When you cross off all the squares you win a $1000 in your savings account!
Leanne | crestingthehill says
love all these clever women - and the fact that a lot of their inventions made life easier for other women.
Audrey says
Josephine Cochran developed the dishwasher because she didn't trust her servants to do it properly and she hated doing it herself.
Maybe, I need to work on a toilet cleaning machine.
Haley Bradley says
Wow, I didn't know dishwashers have been around since 1893! The way my hubby acts, I thought it was a new invention.
Audrey says
They were mostly only used commercially until the 1950's when water heaters supplied enough water for it to be feasible for home use.
Jeremy Barnes says
great idea for a post. I'm pretty thankful for all these ladies as well! #fridayfriviolity
Audrey Humaciu says
Thanks, Jeremy. Sometimes it is the little things (like coffee filters) that we take for granted.
Patrick Weseman says
I passed out a homework assignment based on female inventors this week. Thanks for featuring them.
Thanks for hosting and I hope you had a good weekend.
Audrey Humaciu says
Awesome! Thanks for encouraging young women to become inventors.