The first page of the history of technology dates back to the day primitive humans discovered fire; from the moon above to the Mariana Trench below, from the vast solar system to the tiny realm of quantum mechanics, curiosity about nature and the ambition to conquer the unknown are the infinite driving forces of human progress!
▎Light is everywhere, but it took humans tens of thousands of years to learn its proper use
Primitive people knew how to use light to illuminate the night and drive away enemies and beasts; ancient people learned to use light to transmit simple messages via Morse code; modern people can send light into sealed fibers, transmitting tens of millions of pieces of information in a single second!
▎Referring to nature's designs—how can that be considered plagiarism?
Not only was Leonardo da Vinci's ornithopter designed based on the skeletal structure of bird wings, but the "fly-eye camera," composed of a mini-lens array, directly copied the structure of a fly's eyeball! Beyond that, there are infrared sensors in snakes, sonar communication in dolphins... In the field of applied science, how can human creativity ever compare to that of nature!
▎The convenience of modern life is the crystallization of our predecessors' hard work
◎ When you turn on your computer to binge-watch a show...
The streaming platform's server is breaking down video information into countless electronic signals of zeros and ones. "Fiber optic" lines then convert these currents into light beams, transmitting the video content to a computer host thousands of miles away. The thin and light computers in our hands are the intellectual crystallization developed and improved by countless scientists over the past century from the basic "von Neumann architecture." Not to mention, the power that runs the computer relies on the thermal energy burned by thermal power plants, which is converted into electrical energy and supplied to every household, allowing us to sit comfortably at our desks and enjoy ourselves every day!
◎ When you head out and hop on a bus...
The four-stroke gasoline engine installed in the engine is also known as the "Otto cycle," one of the most important products of the automotive industry. It relies on the combustion of diesel (or gasoline) as a power source, converting thermal energy into mechanical energy through complex mechanical parts. Acting as the "heart" of the bus, it runs continuously to propel the vehicle forward. In recent years, with technological innovations, hybrid buses have hit the road, contributing further to environmental protection!
Curiosity has no boundaries, and the pursuit of technology has no limits; turn every page of this dazzling technological feast for a brand-new adventure!
Book Features:
This book focuses on several of the most important technological fields in modern life, briefly yet professionally introducing the development history of various technologies and research directions from the present to the future. It allows readers to understand the principles behind technological products while enjoying the convenience of modern life, satisfying their interest in research and knowledge, and teaching them to be grateful for the efforts of their predecessors and to cherish the Earth's limited resources.
Miva: the next reading experience beyond audiobooks
Listen like an audiobook, then ask anything, anytime.
Start Miva's narrationMiva does not just narrate. It keeps explaining based on what you ask.