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What the Industrial Revolution Did For Us: Working Wonders - XA007/02VOur experiences of working life in the 21st century - crowded cities, machine-driven factories, the office 9-5 crush, the crush of rush-hour – all have their roots firmly set in the innovations and monumental changes of the Industrial Revolution.
- James Watt’s obsession with his aunt’s boiling kettle gave him the idea of the steam engine
- Richard Awkright’s water-frame for spinning machines gave birth to the first factory and the idea of going ‘out’ to work.
- Humphrey Davy created his safety lamp.
- Robert Owen, philanthropic master industrialist, created New Lanark Mills with enlightened structures of housing.
- J.M.Jacquard created his self-portrait with a series of holed cards which laid the basis for our modern-day computer programmes.
Dan Cruickshank guides us through the fascinating and often surprising discoveries that gave birth to our 21st century working world, from nuclear power stations to the office photocopier.
Publication Year: 2003
Length: 30mins
ISBN: 9780749246839