Week 1: Introduction and Top 10 Inventions

Hi all! My name is Rushil Surapaneni and I am a 2nd year intended Business Administration and Economics major who is also pursuing the Certificate for Entrepreneurship and Technology. I am originally from northern New Jersey, specifically a town by the name of Paramus, and I came to Berkeley because I want to mix my passion for finance with my general interest in the technology industry. My ultimate career goal at the moment is to enter into technology investment banking after graduation. With technology investment banking, a relatively new field, one must understand not only the financials behind companies behind the products being produced and marketed. That's why I've decided to turn to IEOR 190G to help me establish the foundation of this technical knowledge necessary for myself to be successful in my intended career. I want to better understand the mechanics and operations behind the production of technological innovations so when the time comes, I can better communicate and understand the interests of my clientele.

I hope to gain a basic understanding behind not just the technological atmosphere of patent law, but also the more technical features that comprise of entrepreneurship and the development of new technologies. As one whose intended career will involve developing relationships with those involved in the technological entrepreneurial world, I see this course as the foundation to better understanding the individuals I intend to work with. I am thrilled to join everyone on this venture and hope this can be a successful journey for myself and the others in the course.

The Logic Behind the List:

Overall, it came down to what I saw was most practical and necessary for society and the modern world to exist the way it does today. I believe that the inventions I chose revolutionized the socio-economic standing of society to the point that allowed for radical changes in thought and ideology to take place due to these inventions. I see the inventions of this world allowing for society to not only grow in the present but also further advance into the future as they can be tinkered with to better optimize the potential of humankind in the long-run, whether it be technologically, socially, or economically.

The Top 10:

1. The Movable Printing Press: Arrival of this movable type in Renaissance Europe introduced the era of mass communication through the unrestricted circulation of information and as ideas now transcended borders. Power of political and religious authorities threatened as increase in literacy broke the monopoly of literate elite on education and led to rise of middle class, Reformation, and nationalism.
2. The Mobile Phone: Credited with revolutionizing socio-economic culture through the the ability to connect with others at an instant pace. 
3. The Incandescent Lightbulb: Has allowed for greater working hours, better workplace and home safety, and has increase leisure hours and activities. Has become a modern necessity of life and has brought networks of wires into homes and offices, allowing for it to be relatively easy to add appliances and other machines. 
4. The Microwave Oven: Beyond the confines of the home kitchen, the microwave oven's impact has been felt in a number of ways including the ability of the food service industry to meet the demands for quality food served fast.
5. The Automobile: Became the de facto standard for passenger transport in most developed countries and introduction of mass-produced car represented revolution in mobility and convenience. 
6. The Toilet: Has helped reduce diseases such as cholera, which can be largely be prevented when effective sanitation and water treatment prevents fecal matter from contaminating drinking water supplies.
7. The Internet: Commercialization of internet resulted in popularization and incorporation of the Internet into virtually every aspect of modern human life.
8. The Computer: Computers have led to space exploration, new designs of vehicles and other forms of transportation, increase in entertainment industry, and revolutionized medical and biological sciences to address healthcare issues.
9. The Television: Serves in many instances as the primary vehicle for entertainment, advertising, and news.
10. The Telephone: Became indispensable to businesses, government, and households, and are today some of the most widely used small appliances.