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Sewing machine
The invention of the sewing revolutionized the ability for clothing to be mended and constructed in the home enviroment -
Home delivery
Home delivery became popular changing how people received goods and services. Allowing them to spend more time at home. -
Period: to
Pre-Modern Era
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Electric toaster
The electric toaster would change the kitchen, saving time as housewives no longer had to use the oven or fireplace to make toast -
Introduction of the Automobile
The introduction of the automobile changed travel for households and also made suburban living more desirable. -
Radio
Radio became a popular way for families to have entertainment in their homes, although it was invented in 1913, it didn't become popular until 1920 after the introduction of the first radio station in October of 1920 -
Electricity
When electricity came into homes many things were effected including lighting, cooking, refrigeration etc. It came in the 1920's-1930's but didn't become more widely available until around 1945 -
Mass produced goods
Goods that used to be made at home started to become mass produced, changing how people spent their time at home. -
Air Conditioning
Air conditioning became available, changing how people spent time inside during the summer months -
Indoor plumbing
Indoor plumbing became more popular, first coming to the public in a wider aspect in the 1930's in a hotel in Boston; pictured -
Washing machine and Dryer
The development of the first washing machine helped with the amount of time that was dedicated to laundering clothing for the family, the addition of the dryer helped in keeping people from having to use clotheslines with can be especially handy even in the winter months -
Television
Although the Television was invented in 1925 it did not become popular in the home environment until the 1950's. TV changed how the family was entertained in the home. -
Period: to
Modern Era
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Automatic dishwasher
The automatic dishwasher changed the home in the way that now instead of spending time after a meal washing the dishes, they could be washed by machine, freeing up time to spend on other activities or with the family. -
Swanson TV dinners
When Swanson introduced the TV dinners in 1953-1954 it revolutionized how the family ate their meals, it was no longer needed to have multiple dishes for every item in the meal, everything was all eaten out of an aluminum tray. This changed not only how families ate but also the location of where they could eat as the new dinners could be easily eaten in front of the television hence the name "TV dinners". -
Shopping Centers
Shopping centers and Malls became a popular place to get goods and services changing the way families spent their time and money. -
Answering machine
The answering machine (much like the later invention of the cell phone) made it more possible for people to travel and get outside the home because it was not as important to stay at home in fear of missing an important call. The caller could leave a recorded message and the recipient could call back when convenient to them. -
Home VCR
The home VCR (1970's) and the VHS tape (1976) changed the face of entertainment yet again for the household, it was no longer necessary to go to movie theaters to see films or to get film versions of the movie that require a lot knowledge of film, families could watch (and re-watch) their favorite movies with ease in the comfort of their own homes. -
Home video game system
The home video game system changed how families spent their time for entertainment yet again. Instead of going to arcades they could now spend that time in the comfort of their own homes. -
Personal computers
The personal computer changed the home and the family by not only changing how we stored and processed information but also in the later parts of this era how families got entertainment through games on the computer. -
Cell phones
The invention of the cell phone revolutionized how people and families communicated. There was no longer a need to be at home to receive telephone calls and pay phones where no longer essential to being able to make calls when out and about. Thus making it more possible to travel and do business without being tied to a landline or payphone. -
Energy Saving appliances
The introduction of Energy saving appliances changed how people used the natural resources, they are able to do more work while still consuming less electricity and water (if applicable) thus being able to save more money. -
Bluetooth
The introduction of Bluetooth technology changed not only how people were able to connect their technologies together to get jobs done -
Period: to
Post-Modern Era
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The Internet
The introduction and popularity of the internet changed how people communicated, got information, bought goods, etc. -
Skype
The introduction of Skype made communication easier for families, friends, co-workers etc. to make free video calls over the WiFi allowing people to be able to connect and see people that they hadn't been able to in the past. -
Smart phones
The introduction of smart phones changed how people not only communicate with the advancement of text messaging but also how people use the internet, no longer having to be at a computer to do so. -
Kindle (E readers)
The invention of the Amazon Kindle was an advancement in the home because large bookshelves and libraries are not as necessary to have an extensive collection of books. People can also have many books at hand when traveling so they can read without the added weight of many books.
