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Automatic Tea Maker
This tea maker was completely mechanical, needing no electricity. The significance is the process could be completed without involving a person in the process. -
Light Weight Iron
The iron was electric so the user did not have to heat it from the stove. Most of the heat was concentrated in the point, allowing for ironing around buttons and ruffles. This invention made the task of ironing easier, and less time consuming. -
Nichrome wire patented
Nichrome is an allow that is used to make electric filaments that can heat up quickly without burning out. The invention of this alloy helped to pave the way to the invention of many household appliances that followed, including the electric toaster. -
Hoover Vacuum
The first version used an electric fan to generate suction, rotating brushes to loosen dirt, the filter was a pillowcase, and the handle was a broomstick. William Hoover purchased the design, and made a few modifications including the addition of a high powered motor. This invention shortened the time needed to clean the floors, got the floors cleaner, and allowed tme for other responsibilities. -
Refrigerator for home use
The first refrigerator for home use was a small unit mounted on top of an old-fashioned icebox and required external plumbing connections. Having a refrigerator, rather than just an "ice-box" allowed a family to shop more efficiently, store leftovers, and spend less money on blocks of ice. -
Electric Dishwasher
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Calrod
A Calrod is a tubular heating elements that convert electricity into heat . They are used in appliances because of their high power density. -
Pop-Up Toaster
The first automatic pop-up toaster used a clock mechanism to time the toasting process. It shut off the heating element when the bread was done, and released the slice with a pop-up spring. -
Garbage Disposal
The garbage disposal operates on the principle of centrifugal force to crush food waste with blades against a stationary grind ring so it could easily washed down the drain. This invention makes kitchen clean-up easier, with less trash being accumulated. -
Electric Washing Machine
The electric washing machine allowed the clothes to be washed, rinsed, and the excess water removed from the clothes in one process. It saved the user the time and trouble of hand spinning the clothes through the rollers to extract the water. -
Telephone answering machine
The telephone answering machine was developed as a way to allow callers to leave a message on a magnetic tape when the person being called did not answer the phone. It allowed a person to not answer the phone if they were in the middle of something, at the same time allowing them to still receive the information the caller wanted to provide. -
Xerox Copy Machine
The invention of the copy machine allowed a person to make multiple copies of a document, without having to use carbon paper. Even though most homes did not have personal copiers, they did change the way things were done in the workplace by making the job of copying faster. -
Credit Cards
The first "credit card" was issued by Diners' Club. It was paper, plastic cards were not used for another ten years, and was actually a charge card. Users were allowed to accumulate charges during the month, but the balance had to be paid in full at the end of the month. These cards could be useful in helping a family with their financial management. -
Super Glue
This product was accidentally discovered while using cyanoacrylates (the chemical name for glue) to make clear plastic gun sights. Instead they discovered a subtance that would stick to everything. The discovery of this product helped homemakers save money by being able to fix things instead of spending money to buy replacements items. -
TV Dinners
TV dinners were invented by Swanson as an answer to a large amount of Thanksgiving leftovers. They were origianlly modeled after airplane dinners being served by Pan American Airlines. They were served in compartmentalized aluminum trays, frozen, and ready to be heated in the oven prior to serving. This invention gave families an alternative to the multi-course evening meal that took a lot of time to prepare, and clean up. -
Non-Stick Pan
The original non-stick pan was created using Teflon, a coating that was developed by Roy Plunkett while he was working at Dupont. -
Sling lift
The sling lift is a medical device that helps caregivers raise/lower people who are unable to move on their own. This device would be helpful to a family who is caring for a disable family member at home, where without it they would have to be confined to a medical facility. -
Microwave Oven
The microwave uses radar technology to cook foods faster. Because of the "radar" technology, using the earliest models was called "nuking" your food. The earliest models did not really benefit home management at all. The first radarange was six feet tall, and weighed almost seven hundred and fifty pounds. They were also very expensive, between $1,000 and $3,000) so most families could not afford to purchase one for their homes. Now you will see a microwave in almost every home. -
Lint Remover
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Scotchgard
Scotchgard is a coating that is used to protect fabrics, upholstery, and carpet from stains. This invention is significant in many aspects of home management. It made the upkeep/maintenance on carpet and furniture easier for the homemaker. Less time spent on cleaning stains, more time to spend with the family. -
USB Flash/Thumb Drive
The thumbdrive is atorage device that fits into the USB port on a computer. This technology replaced the floppy disk, and CD as a way of making the files on your computer portable. It has impacted the way important household information is kept, and accessed. -
iPod/iTunes
The iPod is a personal device that allows the user to download music from a central sharing site called iTunes. This technology allows for music to be downloaded by song, instead of having to purchase an entire album. -
Birth Control Patch
It's a patch about the size of a matchbook, but as thin as a piece of tape, that delivers the same estrogen and progestin found in a standard birth-control pill. The hormones pass from the patch through the skin and into the bloodstream. As with any birth control product it allows a family to manage when/if they want to have children. -
Blackberry
The Blackberry was the first mobile device that allowed the user to send/receive emails, text messages, and surft the internet. This technology paved the way for future smartphone technology including the iPhone. -
Bluetooth Technology
Bluetooth technology lets the user connect to all of their devices wirelessly. With this technology came freedom of movement. With a bluetooth earpiece, a user can be on the phone while driving and still have two hands on the wheel. This technology also lets people multi-task, allowing them to be more productive. -
Tesla Electric Car
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Facebook
Facebook is a social media site that allows users to create a personal profile, make online friends, and exchange messages. In some ways it has helped people stay in touch with friends, and be involved with family that are far away. On the flipside, it has made people lazy about making human contact, and it has sometimes interfered with a person's ability to get things done. -
Nintendo Wii
The Nintendo Wii was a gaming system that set the bar for video games. It focused on graphics, and motion. Nintendo made many family friendly games for the Wii system, which enable all members of the family to play together. The system also involved some physical activity with some of the games. This gaming system helped bring back family game night. -
Google Maps
Google maps is the gold standard in navigational technology. Google maps Streetview allows a person to actually see the place they are going to. This technology has replaced paper maps, getting people to where they need to be faster, and with less errors. -
iPhone
With the release of Apple's iPhone, the way the world computers was changed forever. The iPhone allowed the user to access the internet in the palm of their hand, whenever they wanted. This 24/7 access has allowed working parents the time to spend with their families, and still stay in the loop with what is going on at work. It is a catch 22 because prior to having unlimited access, people would stop working when they were away from their computers, but now people are working at all hours.
