The world is reflecting on the life of a quiet man who spent more than four decades reliving an event that will forever be on the list of human accomplishments.
Neil Armstrong lived 82 eventful years that could have gone unnoticed by most of us. But in July 1969 he was forever etched in history.
Armstrong was the first to admit it wasn’t his triumph but rather the accomplishment made by thousands of dedicated people who worked tirelessly for many years to make it happen. Leadership, ideas, and hard work continue to teach us to dream and push to create more small steps and giant leaps.
Kneale Mann
nasa
Showing posts with label NASA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NASA. Show all posts
August 26, 2012
May 18, 2009
New Ain’t New No More
Archeologists found the earliest evidence of dentist drills dating back 9,000 years in Pakistan. These primitive hand drills were the earliest found implements which performed cavity repair. Dentists now employ motorized drills that spin at half a million RPM and can solve virtually any dental issue.The cute portable music playing device that revolutionized music consumption was first introduced in 1997. The iPod is one of the most influential inventions in decades. Sony owned the portable cassette market, Apple is the overwhelming leader in mp3 players.
Beer was first invented in the 6th millennium BC in Egypt and Mesopotamia. Today, beer is a $300 Billion a year industry and it is consumed in almost every country on earth.
In the 1960’s, computers were behemoth mechanical creatures that filled rooms to perform basic mathematical problems. The computer installed on the Saturn V rocket which propelled the crew toward the first moon landing was slower than the later model known as the 286. The portable computer was first mass produced in the 1980’s. Today it is a mind that can carry out complex audio and visual tasks simultaneously.An instrument we use every day was named after the Latin term fura or pitchfork. Forks have been used since 2nd century Rome.
In the last decade, scientists all over the world have finally mapped the human genome - the entire gene pool of human makeup.
As close as historians can guess, the first wheelbarrow dates back to around 400BC in ancient Greece. Medieval Europe and China have had their stake in its evolution. It is almost inconceivable that a home owner would not own one today.
What we now know as the Internet was first conceived in the mid 1950’s as a way for U.S. government officials to share and send information over long distances. It was known as the Arpanet. Although near impossible to predict, in 2009 there are hundreds of millions of websites, social media communities and you can do or find anything you can possibly fathom, online.
As soon as something is invented, creative minds get to work on improving it. Once we are introduced to something new in our lives, we somehow seem to find a need for it or seamlessly adapt to its existence.
Got any ideas?
@knealemann
photo credits:
thomasedison.com | kscience.co.uk | wikimedia.org | apple.com
February 18, 2009
From Cave Walls to FriendFeed
How old is social media?
At the core of social networking is connection. It has been going on for about the last 100,000 years or so.
People used to write stories about their lives through pictures on cave walls.
Juan Pablo Bonet first introduced a new way of communication for the deaf and today millions converse through sign language.
Can you hear me now?
In 1836, Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail developed an electronic telegraph machine that sent a series of electric currents which made markings on tape. An alphabet was devised and long distance two-way communication was made possible with basic equipment.
Ancient Greece is the place where the earliest form of shorthand was documented. As early as 400BC, shortened versions of full words were carved on to marble using mostly vowels with slight variations to indicate consonants.
Rocket ships and email
In the late fifties during the height of the Cold War, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik. This event caused the Americans to quickly get to work on the Advanced Research Projects Agency or ARPA which later became ARPA Network or ARPANET. Today, you and I know it as The Internet.
Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in the mid 1400’s. His creation revolutionized communication. A&E named him the most influential person of the 20th century.
Shawn Fanning turned the music industry on its head with his invention of computer code and later Napster which allowed people to electronically share songs.
What does all of this have to do with Social Media?
In short, everything.
This is not about LinkedIn or Facebook, MySpace or Bebo, Twitter or FriendFeed.
Morse code, the Internet, hieroglyphs, the printing press, mp3s, shorthand and many other magnificent inventions have immeasurably helped us better connect with each other while sharing stories, knowledge and experiences.
But can any of this ever replace in-person interaction?
km
At the core of social networking is connection. It has been going on for about the last 100,000 years or so.
People used to write stories about their lives through pictures on cave walls.
Juan Pablo Bonet first introduced a new way of communication for the deaf and today millions converse through sign language.
Can you hear me now?
In 1836, Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail developed an electronic telegraph machine that sent a series of electric currents which made markings on tape. An alphabet was devised and long distance two-way communication was made possible with basic equipment.
Ancient Greece is the place where the earliest form of shorthand was documented. As early as 400BC, shortened versions of full words were carved on to marble using mostly vowels with slight variations to indicate consonants.
Rocket ships and email
In the late fifties during the height of the Cold War, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik. This event caused the Americans to quickly get to work on the Advanced Research Projects Agency or ARPA which later became ARPA Network or ARPANET. Today, you and I know it as The Internet.
Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in the mid 1400’s. His creation revolutionized communication. A&E named him the most influential person of the 20th century.
Shawn Fanning turned the music industry on its head with his invention of computer code and later Napster which allowed people to electronically share songs.
What does all of this have to do with Social Media?
In short, everything.
This is not about LinkedIn or Facebook, MySpace or Bebo, Twitter or FriendFeed.
Morse code, the Internet, hieroglyphs, the printing press, mp3s, shorthand and many other magnificent inventions have immeasurably helped us better connect with each other while sharing stories, knowledge and experiences.
But can any of this ever replace in-person interaction?
km
