When Did The Modern Era Of Technology Begin? Motor Technology to Biotechnology

Advanced Technology
Source: QuotesEverlasting, cc-by-3.0, flickr

Technology has completely revolutionised the way we live our lives, changing everything from how we gather news to how we know when the cookies are ready to come out the oven. Nothing has been left untouched by this powerful and omnipresent influence.

But when exactly did the era of modern technology begin? Let’s take a quick look at some forms of modern technology and the history behind them, so that we can determine when everything began to change.

Motor Technology

Travelling is a necessity in life, and has been made so much easier with the creation of the motor engine. The days of horse-drawn carriages are a thing of the past, even though it’s a rather charming image.

We can thank a shamefully unknown Swiss called François Isaac de Rivaz for bringing forth the era of the motor engine. His invention in 1806, the hydrogen powered engine, was the world’s first internal combustion engine, which of course features in most vehicles today. Without this early stroke of genius, the ICE may not have been invented for years to come, if not at all.

Instant Communication

How amazing is it that we are able to instantly and rapidly communicate with someone on the other side of the planet? It truly boggles the mind, but fortunately its simple beginning is much easier to get your head around.

The advanced electrical signals which makes instant communication possible is considered to be a development of Alexander Graham Bell’s first transcontinental telephone call in 1915, using the audion.  This one simple call led to much effort being put into setting up a transatlantic cable network (1956), and then to the 1964 invention of fibre optics. Mighty oaks from little acorns grow...

Electronic Data Processing

A computer’s ability to process vast amounts of complicated data should be at the top of the list for reasons to love technology. No longer do we have to face such a monumental task, our face distorted with confusion whilst clawing for the paracetamol.

The first example of electronic data processing begins in Blighty in 1951, with the J. Lyons and Co. catering company developing a computer to process all their commercial data. Marked the Lyons Electronic Office, it became widespread throughout the 1960s and 70s, until software began to rear its wonderful head and took over the task.

Electronic Data Storage

Of course before you can process any amount of data, you have to have some way of storing it. Today, unimaginable amounts of data can be stored on a memory card the size of a pea. Minimalism at its absolute best. Looking back on the older, much larger forms of electronic data storage though, it’s easy to see why we wanted to go smaller.  

As computers began to emerge during the 1940s, so did the first form of computerised data storage. Called the Selectron tube, this 1946 invention could store very little indeed, and so they were quickly scrapped. But seeing as we were using hole-punched cards to store data before the Selectron tube, it should definitely be considered what sparked the progress within this form of modern technology.

Biotechnology

Without the development of medicinal drugs, food production or even genetic engineering, through the use of biotechnology, it’s safe to say that humans would be in the history books alongside the Dodo.

Biotechnology began in 1919 with a Hungarian called Károly Ereky, who developed slaughterhouse technology to convert raw materials. Albeit distasteful, this radically improved the production of food.

Similarly, during the 1970s, the notion of “food from oil” (growing single-cell proteins on oil to be used as food) was birthed to tackle food shortages. The biotechnology involved then led to the field of genetic engineering, which blew the roof off of how we now develop proteins and therapeutic drugs.

Looking to the past like we have, it would appear modern technology can find its roots within the first half of the 20th century. Although the history of communication technology can be traced as far back as the 1840s, it is the 20th century which witnessed the biggest surge in technological advancements.

Overall it is safe to say, it is during this century that the era of modern technology dawned, and we can only hope that we continue to prosper from it for many years to come.

Are you wise to the history of modern technology, and can you think of anything else to add? Share your comments below.  

Ben Kettlety is  a writer and gadget-lover who is enthralled by the history of modern technology, and can’t wait to see how it will develop in the future.