Underappreciated Technologies

There are many little things that we use in our day to day lives that make existence so much more convenient, and we don't even think about it. Not every technology is electronic, a technology just has to be a human-made tool created to solve a specific practical problem.

There are a few that come to mind, but I'm sure there are even more.

Straws

Article Summary: Tracing the history of drinking vessels from ancient Mesopotamia, where gold and silver tubes were used around 3000 B.C. to drink beer without disturbing the sediment, the evolution of the straw continued with South America's sixteenth-century bombilla for yerba mate and nineteenth-century rye grass straws. The modern era began in 1890 when Marvin Stone patented the paper straw to fix the musty taste of grass, followed by the 1930s invention of the bendy straw to assist hospital patients and curb disease transmission, before the market ultimately shifted to mass-produced plastics in the 1960s.

Thoughts: Straws are an ancient technology invented by the ancient Mesopotamians, and something that we use to this day. They go from helping people who don't have strong motor functions in their hands drink from a glass to people who prefer them due to wearing lipstick and not wanting to rub it off on the side of a cup. I prefer a straw to using the side of a glass any day and whoever was genius enough to come with that does not get enough credit.

Sunscreen

Article Summary: Tracing the evolution of sun protection from ancient remedies like olive oil and rice bran to the 1891 creation of the first chemical sunscreen, the history accelerated during World War II with red petroleum for soldiers and chemist Franz Greiter's 1946 invention of modern "Glacier Cream" and the SPF scale.

Thoughts: Sunscreen was initially invented for the use of our soldiers and has evolved into a standard routine that we use to protect ourselves from the sun. It is now a recomendation to put some on every morning, but it is especially helpful when you plan to spend a full day in the sun.

Shoes

Article Summary: Tracing the evolution of footwear from ancient animal-skin moccasins and global sandal variations to medieval poulaines and traditional Chinese foot binding, the history entered a manufacturing era with the 1812 opening of the first shoe factory and the 1817 introduction of differentiated left and right shoes. Innovation accelerated in the 20th century with the rise of athletic brands like Converse and the Dassler brothers, the popularization of running and shock-absorbing soles in the 1960s and 1970s, and Nike's introduction of waffle soles and air cushioning, eventually leading to the modern shift toward minimalist and barefoot running trends sparked in the late 2000s.

Thoughts: We put on shoes everyday without even thinking about it. We use them to protect our feet from unpredictable surfaces outside such as dirt, rocks, mold, heat, and even inside to add a cushion to our step on hardwood floors.

Postal service

Article Summary: Tracing the growth of the U.S. Postal Service since Benjamin Franklin's appointment as the first Postmaster General in 1775, the organization has continuously adapted to a changing nation by embracing new technologies and expanding its operations. The provided overview highlights key areas of its rich history, ranging from chronological milestones, stamp evolution, and historical postage rates to workforce diversity, unique mail transportation methods—from mules to experimental missile mail—along with the development of postal facilities, equipment, and iconic uniforms.

Thoughts: The postal service has grown and developed so much over the past years, now with competitors like UPS, Fedex, and Amazon Prime. We can send and receive packages so easily now.

Honorable Mentions

These are some underappreciated products that I didn't have the time to research that I still wanted to shout out:

• Swimming Goggles - Protecting your eyes so you can see clearly underwater improves pool time!

• Post-Its - I have piles of Post-Its all over my desk reminding me to work on things.

• Traffic Lights - Traffic Lights run the road and keep us all safe from busy intersections. Without them, everything would be chaos!