| − | '''Thomas Alva Edison''' is considered by many to be the greatest inventor in [[history]], and named by ''Life'' magazine as the most influential person of the second millennium. Some of Edison's best known inventions are the light bulb, the phonegraph, the mimeograph, the electric typewriter, and an improved stock ticker tape. His single most important invention was the central power station that provided electricity to multiple users, and became the foundation of his company, now known as [[General Electric]]. | + | '''Thomas Alva Edison''' was the greatest inventor in [[history]], and named by ''Life'' magazine as the most influential person of the second millennium. Some of Edison's best known inventions are the light bulb, the phonegraph, the mimeograph, the electric typewriter, and an improved stock ticker tape. His single most important invention was the central power station that provided electricity to multiple users, and became the foundation of his company, now known as [[General Electric]]. |
| | Perhaps his most important contribution was how "[h]e helped to create a new institution for invention—the [[industrial research laboratory]] ..."<ref>http://edison.rutgers.edu/inventions.htm</ref> | | Perhaps his most important contribution was how "[h]e helped to create a new institution for invention—the [[industrial research laboratory]] ..."<ref>http://edison.rutgers.edu/inventions.htm</ref> |