Richard Overton has the incredible distinction of being the oldest war veteran still alive. Currently 107 years of age, he lives in East Austin, Texas, and in 2013 visited the capital of the United States, Washington, D. C., for the very first time. As homage to the extraordinary life of Overton, here are four of the most influential inventions during his mammoth lifetime.
During Overton's life, the dietary consumption of the typical US citizen has undergone a huge adjustment. Television is massive and, as part of the adjustment to this, mealtimes changed. The TV dinner, so-called because that's what it was created for, to watch in from the the tube, became a huge part of American life.
They didn't start of as being particularly popular. Created in the forties, they didn't really take off with the public until the 1950s. They were modeled on the food served by airlines on planes, which usually came in a plastic tray and often contained meat, vegetables and a starch. The airlines were able to freeze these meals and take them out for passengers. When they hit the market, the TV dinner was processed at factories and distributed to local stores. With the advent of the microwave customers could cook them from frozen. Critics suggested that they made the focus of meals more about the TV than about being with family, but sales of $4billion a year mean they are as popular as ever.
Another creation that has changed lives is the mobile phone, also known as the cell phone. In the eighties a hand-held device, the DynaTAC from Motorola, was created that could make phone calls to land lines and other cell phones. It had its drawbacks though, and with battery life of around thirty to sixty minutes didn't catch on right away. It was also quite large and cumbersome and needed to be stored in a briefcase.
These days a mobile is much lighter, usually weighing around 5 ounces and can fit in the anyone's pocket. And these days they are cheaper too, as in 1983 one of these would have set someone back around $4,000. As the devices are ever-changing, it seems the only certainty is that in 30 years time they will not be the same as they are now.
The way in which we store our food has undergone fundamental changes in the last hundred years. Refrigeration, though around for hundreds of years and constantly refined, wasn't something that had been transferred to the home arena until the 1920s. It has totally changed the way people eat all over the planet.
Any list of the most influential things might be remiss if it does mention the Internet. Considering its relative youth, it has changed the way we communicate, the way we shop and the way in which business is conducted. It is arguably one of the most powerful sources of information on the planet as well.
It seems that Richard Overton has been alive for some of the most important and powerful changes in our society's history. Life is arguably much faster than at any time in history, and yet Overton credits his long life to remaining free from stress and trying to be as active as possible.
During Overton's life, the dietary consumption of the typical US citizen has undergone a huge adjustment. Television is massive and, as part of the adjustment to this, mealtimes changed. The TV dinner, so-called because that's what it was created for, to watch in from the the tube, became a huge part of American life.
They didn't start of as being particularly popular. Created in the forties, they didn't really take off with the public until the 1950s. They were modeled on the food served by airlines on planes, which usually came in a plastic tray and often contained meat, vegetables and a starch. The airlines were able to freeze these meals and take them out for passengers. When they hit the market, the TV dinner was processed at factories and distributed to local stores. With the advent of the microwave customers could cook them from frozen. Critics suggested that they made the focus of meals more about the TV than about being with family, but sales of $4billion a year mean they are as popular as ever.
Another creation that has changed lives is the mobile phone, also known as the cell phone. In the eighties a hand-held device, the DynaTAC from Motorola, was created that could make phone calls to land lines and other cell phones. It had its drawbacks though, and with battery life of around thirty to sixty minutes didn't catch on right away. It was also quite large and cumbersome and needed to be stored in a briefcase.
These days a mobile is much lighter, usually weighing around 5 ounces and can fit in the anyone's pocket. And these days they are cheaper too, as in 1983 one of these would have set someone back around $4,000. As the devices are ever-changing, it seems the only certainty is that in 30 years time they will not be the same as they are now.
The way in which we store our food has undergone fundamental changes in the last hundred years. Refrigeration, though around for hundreds of years and constantly refined, wasn't something that had been transferred to the home arena until the 1920s. It has totally changed the way people eat all over the planet.
Any list of the most influential things might be remiss if it does mention the Internet. Considering its relative youth, it has changed the way we communicate, the way we shop and the way in which business is conducted. It is arguably one of the most powerful sources of information on the planet as well.
It seems that Richard Overton has been alive for some of the most important and powerful changes in our society's history. Life is arguably much faster than at any time in history, and yet Overton credits his long life to remaining free from stress and trying to be as active as possible.
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