The Life of Alexander Graham Bell - Coursework Example

Table of Contents: Executive Summary …………………………………………………3 Introduction ………………………………………………………. .. 4 Early Life ………………………………………………………….. 5 Life at Baddeck …………………………………………………… 6 Inventions and Achievements ………………………………………7 Conclusion …………………………………………………………. 8 Recommendations ………………………………………………… 8 Bibliography ………………………………………………………. 9 Executive Summary: Alexander Graham Bell is viewed as one of the greatest inventors to have lived. His major contribution in the field of science is the invention of a telephone. However, he has other inventions such as the photophone, hydrofoils, and aeronautics as patents. Introduction: This paper analyzes the works and life of Alexander Bell. The date of Birth of Mr. Bell is 1847, and he died in the year 1922. He is better known for the invention of a telephone, and he had more than 18 patents (Beihn, 2013). The grandfather, father, and brother of Bell had been involved in work on speech and elocution. Furthermore, the wife and mother of Bell were deaf, and this had a great influence in his work. The research and experiments that Bell carried out led him to develop hearing devices. As a result of these efforts, Bell managed to get the first telephone patent in 1879. Bell managed to successfully invent the telephone because he was able to develop a receiver that had the capacity of turning electricity in to sound (Beihn, 2013). Bell was not happy at his invention, and this is because he considered it as an intrusion to his privacy. He therefore refused to fix a telephone line in the areas where he was conducting his research (Maniaque, 2006). However, there is still a debate on the first person who really invented the telephone. This is because an Italian researcher, by the name of Antonio Meucci was working on the same line as Alexander Bell, and during the same period of time (Beihn, 2013). Alexander Bell was able to develop other famous inventions, and this includes inventions in aeronautics, hydrofoils, and optical telecommunications. In the year 1888, Alexander Bell was one of the people who formed the National Geographic Society. Alexander Graham Bell is one of the famous and most important scientists to have lived. Early Life: The people who played a role in influencing the life and works of Alexander Bell were his grandfather, and mother. Alexander managed to receive home schooling from his mother, and she played a role in instilling a sense of infinite curiosity concerning the world that was surrounding him (Maniaque, 2006). Furthermore, Alexander was able to receive a year of formal education, in a private primary school, and two years of education at the Edinburgh Royal School (Kroll, 2011). Bell was not a bright student; however, he had skills that could help him solve complex problems. A good example, is depicted when he was 12 years old, playing with a colleague at the grain mill (Beihn, 2013). He observed the slow process that the grain mill was involved in husking the grains of wheat. He went on, and developed a device that had the capability of rotating paddles with a given set of nails. This helped in de-husking the wheat. This was the first invention of Alexander Bell (Lin, 2012). There are numerous motivational lessons to learn from this situation. The first lesson is that it does not require an individual to be an academic genius to be a successful inventor. This is because Alexander Bell was not an academic genius, and yet he became a successful inventor (Kroll, 2011). All that an individual needs is to have the capability of identifying the various needs, and carrying out a research with the intention of catering for the needs under consideration. This is a skill that Alexander Bell managed to acquire at a very young age. The mother of Alexander Bell also had great influence on him. The mother was deaf, and despite her physical challenges, she was able to play a piano (Beihn, 2013). This was a major lesson to Alexander, who believed that it is possible to look past the inefficiencies and disadvantages of other people, and find a solution to their problems. This is a very useful lesson to the youth, and any person wishing to make it in life. This is because, all that an individual needs to succeed is a drive for success (Lin, 2012). The mother of Alexander Bell was able to play the piano despite being deaf. This is an aspect that is very motivational, and encouraging. This encouraged Alexander Bell to look at life in a positive manner, despite the challenges that existed (Beihn, 2013). It is because of this lessons that Alexander Bell managed to persist despite the numerous failures he encountered while carrying out his research. Alexander was also able to overcame resistance from his father, and pursue his ambitions. This is because his father wanted Alexander to pursue a career in speech control and elocution (Kroll, 2011). He was therefore groomed to take the businesses of his family. However, because of his ambitions and drive, Alexander decided to pursue his career in research. He got great support from his grandfather (Kroll, 2011). The lesson to learnt from this situation is that it is always important to pursue the desires of an individual’s heart. Pursuing this desire would lead to the success of the person. This is the reason why Alexander was able to invent more than 18 patents. He was pursuing what was favorable to him (Mara, 2002). Life at Baddeck: Alexander Bell managed to carry out numerous experiments at his laboratory in Baddeck. The following are examples of experiments that Bell carried out in Baddeck, building of hydrofoil boats, airplanes, mammoth kites, etc. For example, Mr. Bell managed to carry out experiments with the tetrahedral kites (Kroll, 2011). This was at his laboratory situated in Baddeck. He managed to achieve success with this kites, and this is mainly because in 1907, Bell developed the AEA Cygnet, and Mr. Selfridge piloted the craft. These experiments by Mr. Bell made Baddeck to be amongst the first regions in Canada that witnessed the flight of a controlled powered aircraft (Maniaque, 2006). Bell managed to finance and form the Canadian Aerodrome Company, and it began the commercial manufacture of aircrafts (Beihn, 2013). His experiments on hydrofoils led to the creation of a watercraft referred to as HD-4 hydrofoil. Through persistence and hard work, Bell managed to develop these machines and inventions. The family of Bell also provided a steady source of income to the people found in the villages of Baddeck (Lin, 2012). They supplied materials for his experiments and use at home. However, Bell only spent the summers at Baddeck, and lived in Washington for most parts of the year (Maniaque, 2006). Inventions and Achievements: One of the notable inventions by Bell is the telephone. Since his childhood, it was the desire of Bell to develop a machine that had the capability of transmitting human speech (Mara, 2002). After the invention of the telephone, Mr. Bell formed the Bell Telephone Company, and this invention turned him into a very wealthy man (Beihn, 2013). This is an indication that coming up with an original idea, and working towards the idea under consideration would make the individual under consideration to achieve some profits. Another invention by Mr. Bell is the photophone. Bell considers this as his most important invention. Bell managed to get a breakthrough in the invention of the photophone in the year 1880 (Kroll, 2011). They managed to transmit wireless voice data over a distance of 200 meters in Washington. Other inventions by Bell include the metal detectors, hydrofoils, and aeronautics (Mara, 2002). Bell managed to work on hydrofoils and aeronautics at his laboratory in Baddeck. Together with others, Bell managed to form the National Geographic Society. Conclusions: Mr. Bell was a great inventor. In as much as the telephone is considered as one of his great inventions, Mr. Bell did not view it as such (Maniaque, 2006). It is because the telephone is seen as one of the gadgets that breached his privacy (Kroll, 2011). In fact, on his laboratories, he did not have any telephone installations. He considered the photophone as his greatest invention. Through this technology and individual had the capability of transmitting large volumes of messages over a distance (Lin, 2012). To be an investor, two major people motivated Bell to pursue his career. These are his mother, and grandfather. Recommendations: To be a successful inventor, an individual has to identify the various needs, and works towards developing a unique solution aimed at satisfying those needs. To succeed in research, there is a need of having a mentor. This is an individual who will advice the researcher and the inventor, encouraging him or her to pursue their desires. The mentor of Alexander Bell was his grand father. References: Beihn, M. (2013). Alexander Graham Bell: famous inventor. New York: PowerKids Press. Kroll, J. L. (2011). Alexander Graham Bell: called to invent. Huntington Beach, CA: Teacher Created Materials. Lin, Y. S. (2012). Alexander Graham Bell and the telephone. New York: PowerKids Press. Maniaque, C. (2006). Bell, Alexander Graham. International Journal of Space Structures, 21(1), 73-74. Mara, W. (2002). Alexander Graham Bell. New York: Childrens Press. Read More