1920s New Technology Essay

935 Words2 Pages

New Technology of the 1920s
In this day and age, it is difficult to imagine a world without radio, television, or penicillin. These are simply common things used everyday by people from all different walks of life, but many of these seemingly common technologies were not around prior to the 1920s. Many of these 1920s inventions still have a large impact on the daily lives of people around the world today. Without these inventions, many people could not live the same lives they do now, and many people would even die without inventions of the 1920s. Technological advances in the 1920s have helped to move the country and the world into a new age of medicine, entertainment, and domestic innovations.
Scientists in the 1920s were able to make huge …show more content…

The radio industry thrived during this time period, resulting in a growth from a few hundred thousand radio sets in 1921 to nearly 10 million in 1928 (King). Families relied on radios to provide entertainment through music and stories as well as information that was important in terms of politics and war. This reliance on the radio did not only affect the radio industry in the 1920s, but also changed the radio industry for future generations. Without the Radio Renaissance, radios very well could have been a lost technology and a lost industry. While the radio industry boomed, the television was just in its infancy during the 1920s. The television was invented in 1927, but it did not see a rise in popularity until years later (Cooley). At that time, the idea that television would take over the entertainment industry did not cross the minds of many people, but it would later overshadow the influence of radio and become one of America’s main transportations of media and information. These new ways to spread information created a new, smaller world because people around the country and the earth could now participate in the same television and radio shows, giving them a sense of interconnectedness. As new technology flooded into American homes, it continued to evolve and progress, making the lives of housewives much easier and their housework less time

Show More
Related

  • How Did The 1950s Influence The 1940s

    881 Words  | 2 Pages

    American film and radio changed dramatically because of the 1940s and everything that came with the time. Theatre got darker after the war, also bringing propaganda into radio and film. The radio was the way Americans connected to the world because it offered on the spot information. Everyone was tuned into the radio for news, entertainment and music.... ... middle of paper ...

    Read More

  • Standardization in the 1920s

    588 Words  | 2 Pages

    The 1920s became known as an era memorable for being a time when new products, new ways of marketing and advertising, and standardization gave the country new ways to interact, enjoy themselves, and introduce them to new products. Although very common today, standardization of mass culture like magazines, radio, movies, music, and sports were exciting new innovations to the people of this time. Not only did they distract from the monotony and stresses of work but they created celebrities that people aspired to be like.

    Read More

  • Inventions of the 1920s

    508 Words  | 2 Pages

    Through out the 1920’s many inventions were created that altered human civilization. Transportation was successfully mastered. Radio communication was becoming more common and medicine was saving more and more lives every day.

    Read More

  • America in the 1920s

    819 Words  | 2 Pages

    Many of the inventions during the 1920s modernized America. Inventions of the 1920s include the American Hammond Organ, adhesive bandages, car radios, loudspeakers, electric shavers, and traffic signals. Household items like electric irons, toasters, refrigerators, air conditioners, radio, television, and vacuum cleaners made daily life very different from previous generations. The radio was in almost every home and provided listeners with sports, concerts, and news. Radio quickly became a national obsession. For those that could not afford a radio, the radio in public places became a gathering place and allowed people to keep up with issues and share ideas and opinions. The first movie with sound was introduced and started the movie industry. As automobiles became more affordable, movie theatres became more popular. The 1920s not only introduced sound to movies, but also Technicolor. Movies soon became America’s favorite form of entertainment. The aviation industry was also stimulated with Charles A. Lindbergh’s first flight across the Atlantic Oce...

    Read More

  • Greed and Envy: An Analysis of the 1920’s Consumer-Driven Society: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

    599 Words  | 2 Pages

    The 1920s was a decade of rapid expansion, wealth, envy, and greed. This is a time during which life felt as if it was moving in fast forward. Its basis was money and the extravagances that money could buy. America went under a radical change and social reform. America is becoming more industrialized, more Americans lived in cities than in the countryside. The development of technologies like radios, mo...

    Read More

  • 1920s technology

    537 Words  | 2 Pages

    The radio revolutionised the way families spent time together and receive information. The movie theaters had an impact on how people forgot about the depression and made life seem better. Many homes in the 1920s also just got access to electricity while many homes were still lit by candle light, but became more prominent as the time period continued. Labor saving appliances of the 1920s made the household chores easy to accomplish than it used to be. The 1920s was enriched by many technological achievements that helped changed the way americans communicated, managed their health, and partook in leisurely activities.

    Read More

  • Postwar America: The Golden Age of Television

    1253 Words  | 3 Pages

    The ‘Golden Age of Television’ is what many refer to as the period between the 1950s and 60s when the television began to establish itself as a prevalent medium in the United States. In 1947, the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), and the Du Mont Network were the four main television networks that ran stations with regular programming taking place. (Television, 2003) While regular television programming was a new innovation, the television itself had been commercially available for over twenty years prior to the 50s. It was conceived by many worldly innovators and went through several testing stages before it was finally completed in the late twenties. The three main innovators were Niplow - who first developed a rotating disk with small holes arranged in a spiral pattern in 1884, Zworykin - who developed the Iconoscope which could scan pictures and break them into electronic signals (a primitive form of the Cathode Ray Tube) in 1923, and lastly Fansworth - who demonstrated for the first time that it was possible to transmit an electrical image in 1927. (Rollo, 2011) However, one of the many reasons why this medium was successful in the 50s was due to the fact that it became more accessible to the public. Television sets were more affordable to middle class citizens which created further interest in the new technology. Through an historical account of the medium, the spread of television across America throughout this particular decade will be examined.

    Read More

  • Entertainment In The 1920's Essay

    854 Words  | 2 Pages

    Entertainment in the 1920s began changing after World War I. Because people had more money and were more prosperous, they were able to go to theatres, clubs, and sporting events. Although the greatest form of entertainment had been motorcars, it was a form of freedom that people had never experienced. Sports began to become more popular. “Baseball became popular with the great mass of people for the first time”(Fischer). Because of another form of entertainment gaining popularity, the radio made it easier for fans to keep up

    Read More

  • Canada in the 1920's

    770 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Electricity”─ It’s a word you did not hear often before the 1920’s. With the invention of the hydroelectric dam in the early 1920’s many citizens could now afford electricity in their homes. Along with that came inventions such as the telephone, revolutionizing the way that we communicated. Before the telephone, communication could only happen through mail. Depending on the situation, that could take 6-7 days. Then came inventions like the electric refrigerator, stove, iron and radio.

    Read More

  • Fads In The 1920s Essay

    1498 Words  | 3 Pages

    When people think of the 1920s they think of the great depression. What people don’t know is that twenties were much more than the depression. The 1920s were one of Americas most prosperous eras. This era brought peace, new technology, inventions, new dances, flappers, entertainment, prohibition and much more. The twenties have been described in many ways including the Roaring Twenties, the Jazz age and the era of wonderful nonsense. The name that best illustrates this time period is the era of wonderful nonsense because the crazy fads.

    Read More

  • The Role Of Television In The 1950's And 1960s

    708 Words  | 2 Pages

    With improvements to broadcasting technologies and greater access by more families, television was now in more homes in the 1960’s, bringing news, advertising, and family comedy shows to the nation. Moreover, the influence on social aspects of people’s live was apparent when it came to depicting women and their gender roles through acting. Consequently, television played another role regarding social dynamics thus, showing the realities of civil rights and the horrors of war. Additionally, television brought the political candidates to the forefront and had a strong influence on the American people’s political ideologies, as the first ever presidential debate aired on television. Finally, television aided the economy by waging advertising campaigns that convinced consumers to purchase their products. Coupled with consumer’s extra income contributing to a strong economy, despite the slightly high unemployment rates. As can be seen, television played a key role in the social, political, and economic culture in the 1950’s and

    Read More

  • Roaring Twenties Essay

    978 Words  | 2 Pages

    Buying the same stuff, listening to the same music, and even using the same slang terms. Many people across the United States and even across the world were becoming more and more similar in the way they talked and the purchases they made. This could partially be accredited to the radio. This simple device was revolutionizing the nation’s economy. The value of radio sales in the U.S. jumped from $60 million in 1922 to almost $850 million in 1929. Popular network programs such as “Amos ‘n’ Andy” and “the Philco hour” provided an effective ...

    Read More

  • Technology of the 1920's

    534 Words  | 2 Pages

    Where would the world be without the inventions and ideas of the 1920's? The answer is, no one really knows; however, the inventions and ideas that were brought about in the 1920's are things that are used more than ever today. With the technological advancements made in the 1920's, the invention of the radio, television, automobile, and other minor advancements made the 1920's one of the most important decades of the 1900's.

    Read More

  • The Causes Of The Great Depression

    1180 Words  | 3 Pages

    The 1920s were a period of economic growth and change. Real wages for most workers increased while stock prices increased as much as they had in the previous three decades; for the first time, 2,500, the majority of Americans lived in cities and towns. The appearance of current medicine permitted child mortality rates to decline significantly among the rich, but fewer other Americans appreciated regular admission to physicians.

    Read More

  • Radio’s Impact during the 1920’s

    958 Words  | 2 Pages

    After the First World War, many people were looking forward to good times. The 1920’s presented people with this time of fast-paced fun and adventure. Entertainment was the foremost part of everyday life during the 1920’s. Radio introduced a whole new practice of entertainment to people’s everyday lives. Likewise, through the utilization of the radio, people were able to experience a new medium to entertain themselves. Furthermore, the radio changed the face of society’s culture through its widespread use. In addition, radios provided people with a new, effective and efficient means of communication. Radio was a fundamental aspect in people’s lives during the 1920’s as it provided many people with news and entertainment in their day-to-day lives.

    Read More

More about 1920s New Technology Essay

Open Document