Invention and Innovations 7 th Grade

Patent A record explaining an invention. It protects an invention from being stolen.

First Patent Issued to Joseph Jenks

U.S. Patents since Million +

History of Invention Inventions of the: Stone Age: axes, and tools made of stone People invented ways of creating pottery Bronze Age: wheel, plow, irrigation and writing. These were the building blocks for later inventions. Iron Age: the screw pump,

History of Invention Inventions of the: The Industrial Revolution: ( ) Steam engine, telegraph, better ways to plant and grow crops Information Age: vacuum tubes, transistors, used in television, computers

Discovery A discovery is made when something that naturally occurs is first noticed. Electricity 1752 Vacuums Newton’s Laws of Motion 1666

Invention An invention is a new idea, process, or device. Humans design and create inventions

Devices and Machines Devices and machines. These are inventions with moving parts or electrical circuits used to do work.

Products Products. These are manufactured artifacts. Examples of products include: ink pens sporting equipment clothing even artwork pieces of music food

Processes Processes. These are new techniques and ways of doing things. Processes can be changes in the way products are manufactured. They can also be new techniques for performing surgeries, growing crops, or making medicines.

Processes

Problem Solving Inventing follows a set of steps. It is a process. The process begins with a problem and ends with a solution.

Trouble Shooting A technique used to find the cause of a problem in a technological system.

Experimentation Problem solving step that is used to carry out tests on technological products and systems.

Identify the problem Collect Information Review Think Creatively Experiment

Problem A problem is anything that can be made better through change. Example: the time and effort it takes to mow the lawn is a problem.

Challenge A challenge is also a problem. A challenge is an obstacle or goal that needs to be met. Example: to safely travel to the planet Mars.

Collect Information Research Techniques used by Inventors: Interview Experts. Read Books, Magazines, and Academic Journals. Inventors keep up with and record their progress by keeping notebooks or personal journals.

Think Creatively Requires the human brain. Inventors create: osketches odrawings ocharts ographs To aid in the creative process.

Experiment In this step the inventor builds inventions. They use drawings created in the last step. This step may take weeks or even years.

Review After the invention works, inventors review their notebooks. They make sure that the invention solves the problem. If the invention does not solve the problem, the inventor starts over again with step one. If the problem is solved, the invention process is solved.

Why People Invent #1 Social Inventions #2 Financial Inventions #3 Leisure Inventions

Social Inventions Social inventions are created to help the inventor or other people. They make our lives better. These inventions impact society. Example: a jar opener for the elderly, vaccines for children

Financial Inventions Most inventions are created to make money. These are called financial inventions. Financial inventions often make things faster or easier to do. Example: Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin to process cotton faster.

Leisure Inventions Leisure inventions are created for the pleasure of inventing. Inventors who like to tinker create things. Example: Rube Goldberg was a cartoonist who drew funny leisure inventions.

Innovation Inventors do not always invent new devices. They often create innovations. Innovation is the process of altering an existing product or system to improve it.

Adaptations Adaptations are developed when inventions are used for something other than the purposes for which they were intended. Medicines are adapted when used to treat ailments besides the one they were meant to cure.

Spin-offs NASA has created over one thousand inventions that have been adapted to solve other problems. These adaptations are known as spin-offs. Racecar drivers now use technology from space suits worn by Apollo astronauts. Cordless power tools were first used in space. The suits firefighters wear are NASA spin-offs Spin-offs are inventions that have been adapted to solve other problems.

Innovations and Adaptations Innovations and adaptations make devices, products, and processes easier to use. They help to make inventions better and more useful. Innovations are an important part of invention

Important Inventions 20th Century Inventions

Thank you Go Out and Invent Something