This week’s TIME cover story takes a look at the latest advancements and enchantments of virtual reality, as seen through (literally) the lens of the Oculus Rift and its inventor Palmer Luckey.
A quick survey of some of the other inventors who’ve been featured on TIME’s cover over the years reveals that Luckey is in good company—and that inventors can tell you something about the times in which they live. In the 1920s and ‘30s, the inventions featured were what we still think of as inventions (light bulbs and the like); in the mid 20th century many scientists seemed more focused on discoveries (like atomic power); more recently, computer technology provides the inspiration. But no matter the era, these men (and yes, they’re all men so far) changed our world.
See Original Models of the Apple I and Other Iconic American Inventions
Printing Press, 1830: Issac Adams, (Unnumbered Patent)
The style of bed and platen printing press in this patent model inspired Issac Adams’ design of the later Adams Power Press, which was praised by early 19th century printers for its production of quality book work.
Courtesy Smithsonian National Museum of American HistoryTelegraph, 1837: Samuel F. B. Morse, Prototype.
Samuel F. B. Morse converted an artist’s canvas stretcher into a telegraph receiver that recorded a message as a wavy line on a strip of paper. His telegraph transmitter sent electric pulses representing letter and numbers that activated an electromagnet on the receiver.
Courtesy Smithsonian National Museum of American HistoryViolin, 1852: William S. Mount, (Patent No. 8981).
William S. Mount proposed creating violins with concave or hollow backs. This patent model represented a design innovation that would minimize the strain on the violin soundboard and avoid interference with the “sonorous and vibrating qualities” of the instrument.
Courtesy Smithsonian National Museum of American HistoryTypewriter, 1868: C. Latham Sholes, Carlos Glidden & Samuel W. Soule (Patent No. 79265).
This patent model was created by the three Milwaukee inventors who made progress towards a viable typewriting machine. Six years later, Remington & Sons produced the first commercially successful machine, bearing the names of Sholes and Glidden.
Courtesy Smithsonian National Museum of American HistorySewing Machine, 1873: Helen Blanchard, (Patent No. 141987).
This patent model for an improvement in sewing machines introduced the buttonhole stitch. Blanchard received some 28 patents, many having to do with sewing. She is best remembered for another overstitch sewing invention, the “zigzag.”
Courtesy Smithsonian National Museum of American HistoryCamera Shutter, 1879: Eadweard Muybridge, (Patent No. 212865).
This “Method and Apparatus for Photographing Objects in Motion” was adapted to photographic equipment. As demonstrated with this patent model, it could produce images of subjects in rapid motion. It was used by Eadweard Muybridge in his celebrated animal locomotion photography.
Courtesy Smithsonian National Museum of American HistoryIncandescent Lamp, 1881: Thomas Edison (Patent No. 239373).
Thomas Edison submitted this model to patent a variation on his newly invented light bulb. Although he never put this design into production, this lamp could be disassembled to replace a burned-out filament.
Courtesy Smithsonian National Museum of American HistoryHigh-Strength Fiber, 1965: Stephanie Kwolek (Patent Nos. 3819587 and RE30352).
Kwolek’s 1965 discovery at DuPont of strong polymer fibers resulted in DuPont Kevlar, best known for its use in bullet-resistant body armorCourtesy Hagley Museum and LibraryApple I Computer, 1976: Steve Jobs (Patent No. 7166791) & Steve Wozniak (Patent No. 4136359). In 1976 the first form of computer designed by Stephen Wozniak and sold by Wozniak in conjunction with Steve Jobs was sold, and became a leader in personal computing. Originally marketed to hobbyists only primarily as a fully assembled circuit board; purchasers had to add their own case and monitor in order to create a working computer.
Courtesy Smithsonian National Museum of American HistoryArtificial Heart, 1977: Robert Jarvik, M.D., Prototype.
This electrohydraulic artificial heart is a prototype for what became the Jarvik-7 Total Artificial Heart, which was first implanted into a human in December 1982 at the University of Utah Medical Center. The two sides of the device are connected with Velcro.
Courtesy Smithsonian National Museum of American HistoryLeo H. Baekeland on the Sep. 22, 1924, cover of TIME. Invented Bakelite and more.TIMEThomas Edison on the May 25, 1925, cover of TIME. Invented the phonograph, light bulb and more; also appeared on the Jul 5, 2010, cover.TIMEGuglielmo Marconi on the Dec. 6, 1926, cover of TIME. Invented the wireless telegraph.TIMENikola Tesla on the July 20, 1931, cover of TIME. Invented alternating current, lasers and more.TIMECharles F. Kettering on the Jan. 9, 1933, cover of TIME. Invented the electric automobile starter and more.TIMEErnest O. Lawrence on the Nov. 1, 1937, cover of TIME. Invented the cyclotron.TIMEAlbert Einstein on the Apr. 4, 1938, cover of TIME. Though better known for his discoveries than for his inventions, Einstein did co-invent a new kind of refrigerator. He also appeared on the cover of TIME five other times.TIMEEdwin Land on the June 26, 1972, cover of TIME. Invented Polaroid film and more. Cover Credit: ALFRED EISENSTAEDTBill Gates on the Apr. 16, 1984, cover of TIME. Helped invent new software language; also appeared on the covers of seven other issues of the magazine.Marc Andreessen on the Feb. 19, 1996, cover of TIME. Helped invent the web browser. Cover Credit: SAM JONESBenjamin Franklin on the July 7, 2003, cover of TIME. Invented the lightning rod, bifocals and more.Steve Jobs on the Oct. 24, 2005, cover of TIME. The Apple founder held hundreds of patents; also appeared on the covers of seven other issues of the magazine.Cover Credit: ART STREIBER FOR TIME
