Notable Historic Floridians Thomas Alva Edison

Exploring Florida Contributor Throughout his career, Edison directed his studies to devices that could satisfy real needs and come into popular use. Indeed, it may be said that in applying himself to technology, he was fulfilling the ideals of democracy, for he centered his attention upon projects that would increase the convenience and pleasure of mankind. One of the outstanding geniuses in the history of technology, Thomas Edison earned patents for more than a thousand inventions, including the electric light, the phonograph and the motion-picture camera. These three inventions gave rise to giant industries—electric utilities, phonograph and record companies and the film industryâ