Inventions

Phone

    The first telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876. It made communications easier. But the telephone was only fixed in post offices. People had to go there to make calls to faraway people and the fees were very high. Later, a cell phone was developed in 1973 in America. It was one of the most useful inventions. People can use cell phones to communicate with others much more easily. They can take them anywhere to make private calls. Even vision calls (可视电话), cell phones have many other functions, such as sending messages, taking photos and reading online.

TV

    The first TV set was invented by an English scientist, John Baird, in 1926. The invention helped people watch films at home instead of going to the cinema as before. At first, TV sets only broadcast black-white pictures. Several years later, colored TV sets made the pictures lively. However, they were heavy and thick, so it was difficult to move them. Then, digital TV sets came into being. They are light and thin. Many TV programs are available (可获得的) at any time. At present, people can use the IPTV (网络电视) to record and replay programs.

Computer

    The first modern computer was invented in America in 1946. It was as big as a room. It improved the speed and exactitude of calculation (计算). In the 1950s, desktop computers were invented in the same country. They became smaller and could be put on the desk. Since then, they have become very important in many fields of work and leisure. Before the 1970s, the computers were single. It was the Internet that joined the computers into a big family, so they could share information with one another. Around 1985, laptops were developed in Japan. They were much smaller and could be put on people's laps. They were light and easy to take.