Old relics

[Daddydavek]

Edison of course didn't invent the idea of recording sound, what he did invent and patent was the first usable recording system that could be mass marketed.  A much more important accomplishment.  And actually the same for the light bulb.  The list of patents he obtained and the companies he founded or were spun off is still quite impressive even in this post-industrial age.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Alva_Edison

[Zombie]

Edison of course didn't invent the idea of recording sound, what he did invent and patent was the first usable recording system that could be mass marketed.  A much more important accomplishment.  And actually the same for the light bulb.  The list of patents he obtained and the companies he founded or were spun off is still quite impressive even in this post-industrial age.

 

Yes, Edison was a consummate businessman and entrepreneur - shame the French don't have a word for this - able to take ideas, develop and improve them and build very successful businesses around them. The light bulb is an example - Edison didn't invent the light bulb or even innovate the necessary changes to make them practicable, that was done by Joseph Swan who later sued Edison for patent infringement and won. As punishment, Edison had to make Swan a partner in his electric company and the U.S. Patent Office decided in 1883 that Edison’s patent was invalid, as it also duplicated the work of another American inventor. Edison later bought out Swan so it is Edison's name that is remembered... for making a lot of money out of 'em What Edison did do, and where he was brilliantly successful, is to make continual improvements to products like the light bulb and create better products.