Creativity was celebrated throughout the first week of April in Geneva during their annual International Exhibition of Inventions. Inventors from 45 countries around the world showed up with hopes of having their inventions picked-up by investors/ manufacturers.
Some of the featured inventions included spring-loaded high heels which act as tiny shock absorbers to make walking more comfortable, a totally “hands free” computer mouse, an electronic device which protects infants from sudden death during sleep, as well as a watch the can shoot out pepper spray to evade attackers (or can be filled with medicine cartridges for asthmatics).
It’s been said that recessionary periods inspire creative thoughts. Makes sense considering we must learn to do more with the same or even less resources than before. In fact, many products we are familiar with today were actually created during the Great Depression. A few of these inventions that have withstood the test of time include:
- Electric Dry Razor (1929) Jacob Schick, an army vet, was tired of lathering up to shave in the frigid temperatures of Alaska, where he was gold mining so he developed a way for a dry shave
- Supermarkets (1930) King Cullen Supermarket which opened in Queens, NY was the first to offer a large layout, variety and discounts all under one roof
- Cotton Tampon (1931) Although tampons have been around since at least ancient Egyptian years, Dr. Earle Cleveland Haas was the first to develop cotton tampons based on the cotton plugs used during surgeries
- Laundromat (1934) So many couldn’t afford the luxury of an electric powered washing machine at the time so J.F. Cantrell, realizing this, bought four machines and installed them in the same building and then charged customers by the hour to use them
- Chocolate Chip Cookie (1934) Was “accidentally” created by Ruth Wakefield, owner of the Toll House Inn, a very popular Massachusetts restaurant. (The story of their creation varies)
- Monopoly (1935) The most played board game in the world as well as the most commercially successful board game in US history
I wonder what life changing inventions will be born out of our current economy? Will shock absorbing stilettos be the hot new item? or the spraying James Bond-like watch? I’m not so convinced that these products possess that same “timeless quality” as those outlined above but I guess only time will tell.