World Expos offer visitors a sneak peek into the future by showcasing the latest discoveries and technological innovations. The World’s Fairs have been the launch pads for inventions and innovations ever since they began in the mid-18th century. That was a time when the world was witnessing the transformation of technology from a small-scale, hand-crafted activity to a mechanised industrial system.
Seven years after the French Industrial Exposition, the first World Expo, held in 1851 in London, showed the world what would happen if it were to embrace science and technology. The Christian Science Monitor called World Expos “Economic Olympics”.
The World’s Fairs provided visitors with two things: a global perspective via displays of goods from around the world, and a taste of the future via displays of new inventions and state-of-the-art machines and structures.
Over the years, the expos attracted visitors in hordes from near and far places to watch the latest discoveries and technological innovations, some of which we’re listing below.
1851
The Crystal Palace (the expo’s venue was custom-built), fax machine (facsimile transmission), ‘tangible ink’ for the blind, stereo photographs, chainsaw, high-power steam engine, steam tractor, steamship and crane.
1853
The elevator was showcased for the first time in Dublin.
1855
The first-ever lawnmower, Moore’s washing machine, the first non-industrial sewing machine by Singer, the first speaking doll, one of the first oil-powered vehicles and Samuel Colt’s revolver.
1862
Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine, one of the first mechanical computers.
1876
Many technical novelties widely used in following decades, such as Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone, Thomas Alva Edison’s telegraph, Remington’s typewriter and Heinz tomato Ketchup, were shown for the first time to the public. When Alexander Graham Bell first demonstrated the telephone, Brazil’s Emperor Dom Pedro famously said, “My God, it talks!”
1877
The first hand-powered dishwasher.
1878
Tinfoil for sound production before it became a kitchen staple.
1889
Recording device. Eiffel Tower, the world’s tallest structure at 1,000 feet. Thomas Edison also unveiled gramophone or phonograph, a record-playing Device.
1892
Recorder, video camera and television made their respective debuts. Nylon and plastic products emerged. The application of electricity was shown to awe-struck visitors.
1893
The 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition launched the careers of many now-famous food items, including shredded wheat, peanut butter, Wrigley’s spearmint gum, Aunt Jemima pancake mix, Cream of Wheat, Quaker Oats, chili, brownies, and one of Chicago’s iconic bites, the hot dog. Besides food, several other inventions too made their debut, including neon lights and phosphorescent lamps (predecessor to fluorescent lighting), a moving walkway, or travelator as we know it, and the ‘clasp locker,’ a clumsy slide fastener and forerunner to the zipper. The world saw its first Ferris wheel (Chicago Wheel). The first fully electrical kitchen, including an automatic dishwasher was introduced. A first prototype of the aerosol spray as well as a cheaper and more efficient Alternating Current (AC) system surfaced.
1900
Talking movies projecting image and sound simultaneously. A diesel engine that ran on peanut oil. The first Metro line. The first Olympic Games outside of Greece. The first magnetic audio recorder, telegraphone.
1901
1903
Ice-cream cones were introduced.
1904
Automobiles, wireless technology and aeronautics. Also, electrical plug and wall outlet.
1904
Ice-tea
1905
Ice cream in waffle cups, fingerprint magnifier and the first device to synchronise film with sound.
1909
Incubators and the world’s highest water slide, a five-kilometre scenic rail-ride around the site, and a ‘joy-wheel’
1915
Opening of the Panama Canal
1929
The first live TV broadcast and the world’s first artificial speech synthesiser operated by a combination of keys and foot pedals. Also, came was the first television set, video camera and the recorder. The first commercial 3D film required Polaroid glasses for viewing.
1939
Humanoid Robots, TV, colour photo and air conditioner
1958
The world’s fastest elevators at the time.
1959
The iconic Atomium monument, shaped as a unit cell of an iron crystal, magnified 165 billion times. It is 102-metres (335 ft) tall, with nine steel spheres connected with metal tubes. Inside the tubes are stairs, escalators and a lift that makes each sphere accessible to the public.
1962
Space Needle, a 185-metre-high spire, with the revolving restaurant at the top. It was built to take on 200mph winds and 9.0 magnitude earthquakes.
1964
Videoconferencing, autonomous car, a geodesic dome built using steel and acrylic cells. The longest escalator ever built. Multi-projector/Multi-screen systems. Parker Pens pavilion used a computer to connect personalities on opposite sides of the world.
X-ray machine. NBC live broadcast a speech to homes all across the US for the first time. A design company showcased ‘The Kitchen of the Future’ where appliances would appear as needed from otherwise bare walls, floors and ceilings. The kitchen featured other innovations including a refrigerator-freezer with a dispenser for hot and cold drinks and a space to age meats. Computerised highway, a roadway that could automatically space cars at safe distances to reduce traffic jams and vehicle accidents. General Motors showcased an underwater hotel as part of its Futurama ride. The display included ‘aqua-scooters’ for travel. Jetpacks introduced.
1970
The first mobile phone. The first display of moon rock brought back by the Astronauts of Apollo 12 a year earlier. The first IMAX film premiered. The screen measured 300-feet-by-213-feet.
1975
A floating city
1982
The world’s first touchscreen – a transparent screen that would react and change as people pressed their fingers against it. The debut of Cherry Coke
1983
The first commercial touchscreen computer
1985
Portrait-drawing robot
1986
Skytrain and Monorail. The first permanent IMAX 3D theatre for the Expo Vancouver.
2000
Clean energy car and portable laser.
2001
The first hydrogen-powered car, BMW 750 hL.
2005
Maglev, Ultra HDTV and humanoid robot
2010
A violin-playing robot. The wind cowl. Rainwater harvesting and solar power. A walking robot.
2012
Hybrid bimodal trams and wireless trams.
2015
Gen 2 elevators and solar trees.
2021
Wait to be amazed.
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