lesson 2

• Antecedent


  Precursor to the unfolding or existence of something
• Historical antecedents in science and technology

  • Factors that paved the way for the presence of advanced and sophisticated scientific and technological innovations today
• Ancient period


  Allowed civilizations to flourish by finding better ways of communication, transportation, self-organization, and of living in general
• Ancient wheel


  • Grew out of a mechanical device called the potter's wheel
  • No one actually knows who invented the wheel and when
  • Invention often credited to the Sumerians
• Papyrus


  • A material similar to thick paper made from the pith of the papyrus plant
  • Used for writing by Ancient Egyptians around 300 BC

  
• Shadoof


  • An early tool invented by ancient Egyptians to irrigate land
  • A hand-operated device used for lifting water
  • Believed to be an ancient precursor of more sophisticated irrigation tools
• Antikythera mechanism


  • The world's first analog computer orrery
  • Discovered in 1902 from the waters of Antikythera, Greece
  • Similar to a mantel clock
  • Used to predict astronomical positions and eclipses for calendar and astrological purposes

  
• Aeolipile


  • Widely believed to be the ancient precursor of the steam engine
  • Credited to Hero of Alexandria for demonstrating its use
  • A steam-powered turbine which spun when the water container at its center was heated
  • Described by Vitruvius as a scientific invention through which "the mighty and wonderful laws of the heavens and the nature of winds" may be understood and judged

  
• Heavy plough


  • One of the most important technological innovations during the middle ages
  • Turned European agriculture and economy on its head
  • Caused healthier soil, higher plant yields and efficient agricultural practices
• Gunpowder


  • Chinese alchemist accidentally invented black powder of gunpowder
  • Called "huoyao" meaning "fire potion"
  • Ushered in an unprecedented advancement in warfare and combat throughout the Middle Ages
• Paper money


  • First known versions could be traced back to the Chinese in 17th century AD
  • An offshoot of the invention of block printing
  • Traders and merchants eventually realized the huge advantage of using paper money
• Mechanical clock


  • Developed in the Middle ages
  • Changed the ways how days spent and work patterns were established
• Spinning wheel


  • A machine used for transforming fiber into threads or yarn
  • Sped up the rate of linen production by a factor of 10 to 100 times when introduced in Europe in 13th Century

  
• Compound microscope


  • Invented by Zacharias Janssen, a Dutch spectacle maker, in 1590
  • Allowed magnification far larger than a simple magnifying lens
• Telescope


  • Invented by Galileo Galilei
  • Allowed important astronomical discoveries and identification of craters and mountains on the moon
• Jacquard loom


  • One of the most critical drivers of the industrial revolution
  • Built by French weaver Joseph Marie Jacquard
  • Demonstrated the use of punched cards to instruct a machine to carry out complex tasks, an important antecedent of modern computer technology
• Engine-powered airplane


  • Designed and successfully operated by Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright
  • Paved the way for modern aircraft
• Television


  • Invented by Scottish Engineer John Logie Baird
  • Used by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for its earliest television programming in 1929
• Electronic jeepney (E-jeepney)


  • Designed to be environment-friendly, eliminating noise and air pollution
  • Invented as an inventive response to criticisms of the traditional jeepney
• Erythromycin


  • An important medical invention
  • Invented by Ilonggo Scientist Abelardo Aguilar
  • Used for people allergic to penicillin and has saved millions of lives
• Medical incubator


  • Invented by Filipino pediatrician and National Scientist Fe del Mundo
  • Designed using native laundry baskets and bottles with hot water
• Mole remover


  • Invented by Rolando dela Cruz
  • Developed from the extracts of cashew nuts
  • Easily removed moles and warts without surgical procedures
• Banana ketchup


  • Invented by Filipino Food technologist Maria Orosa
  • A variety of ketchup different from the commonly known tomato ketchup
  • Developed during World War II when there was a shortage of tomatoes