Where Stuff Comes From

The first of anything is always unimpressive (and sometimes historically out of place (1). Invention is different than innovation. Historically, invention is not a profitable or commendable affair (2). Invention is a creative process, and innovation is more visible and leads to the modern versions of things we have today. As a process, invention to innovation is how humanity technologically adapts to optimal or near optimal versions of the things we use. An example of this process in action is the development of the submersible devices to the submarine.  

Early devices lacked qualities that make up modern submarines. The first submersible devices were called diving bells. The first diving bells go all the way to the Greeks in recorded history (3). The water pressure and weight pushes down on the bell while the shape contains air (4). Later devices were submersible while still being manual in origin, with most sitting closer to the surface.

Later submersible devices could move and sink with the passenger, but lacked automated movement and other modern features. William Bourne designed a device that resembled a small barrel and essentially bobbed and sank a few feet but couldn’t move. Cornelius Drebbel designed three devices all of which used manual movement, it resembled a small raft with oars moving it underwater. The last of his devices could sink up to 15 feet and could travel underwater for up to 3 hours. Denis Papin designed a device that could sink and push itself with pressurized air from a nozzle in the back. The Turtle or Acorn was the first military submersible device designed by David Brushnell. It moved with bicycle like petals and had a crank screw that was used to screw holes in the bottom of ships. Robert Fulton’s Nautilus is the last of these submarines. It moved with the same way as the Acorn, had room for multiple passengers, and laid mines for ships that floated to the surface. Mechanical submarines operated using steam and combustion and resemble modern submarines.

The first combustion and air independent submarine was the Ictineo II. The device could pump air from the surface and operated on a simple combustion like system. The Resurguram was a mechanical sub armed with a single torpedo that was shaped like an arrow. The ship was designed to shoot a hole in a ship and then force its way through the newly created weak point. The development of the modern submarine followed with an almost astronomical growth in capability.

Called sonar or torpedo boats, the earliest of versions of modern submarines resemble very closely to what we would consider to be modern submarines almost to a tee. The boats were electronically powered, pumped air into their hulls, and had greater distant capabilities. The Peral submarine, developed by Isaac Peral, used pressurized air to travel and had sonar capabilities. Designed by Henri Depuy, the Depuy de Lome was the first ship to use a steam power propeller, and used pressurized air in its cabin. Later boats were designed during WWI, and were solely for military usage.

(If an actual historian reads this, please develop a methodology and technological history. Its embarrassing how little there is on any of this stuff.)

1. The first steam engine was invented by Archimedes and was used as a sleeping device, there was movable parts in Caligula's boat that was used for a viewing platform and statues.
2. The viewing glass is historically common and goes back hundreds of years. The first telescope, or stand based telescopic lens, was made by Hans Lippershey. He used the device to view objects that were far away. Galileo used the device to view the stars and updated its capacity.
3. There are manuscripts of Alexander the Great diving in the Indian Ocean and recording various types of sea life he saw.
4. A metal bell shaped devices that holds air underwater. The bell contains a limited usage of air and contains the stale air without pumping it out (Carbon rich air that would poison the diver). The diver also has to be aware of the depth of the device due to air pressure.