Pager. Oh how we miss receiving messages via beeping noises and LCD screens. Invented in 1959, the pager completely revolutionized communications in the 80’s and 90’s. Motorola, the company that pioneered the field, helped the pager go mass market when it created a small receiver that would deliver a radio message immediately.

Perfume. All of us use perfumes every day, in the form of deodorants, sprays, after shaves and colognes. Have we ever stopped and thought about what the word “perfume” means? In Latin, “perfume” literally means “through smoke,” since perfumes originated with the burning of incense and herbs in ancient times.

Subways. For those lucky enough to use a subway (mass transportation is non-existing here in Dallas), you should be grateful to Alfred Beach, who built the first subway and patented the pneumatic transit system in 1865.

Metal Detectors. A crude form of the first metal detector was invented by Alexander Graham Bell, as a life-saving device for US President James Garfield. Don’t ask me how a metal detector can save someone’s life!

- Bryan Daigle
President & Founder of ideatango.com – the #1 site for inventors & invention ideas For more good info & advice, check out the official IdeaTango Blog