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Nikola Tesla Impact On Society

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Most people have heard of Nikola Tesla, but the true extent of his influence is tragically overlooked. Tesla was a scientific pioneer, who came up with original ideas far ahead of his time. His technologies paved the way for other scientists and inventors. Tesla propelled us immeasurably forward as a nation in the areas of science and technology, making his impact undeniable. Nikola Tesla is the most influential historical figure from the gilded age because of how his innovations forever revolutionized our understandings of energy and technology.
To begin with, Tesla’s innovation of alternating current or AC electricity was unique and crucial. Prior to Tesla, the world’s power was largely supplied using a DC or direct current system. Around …show more content…

Leonard DeGraaf, an archivist at Thomas Edison National Historical Park, “though the light bulb, the phonograph and moving pictures are touted as Edison's most important inventions, other people were already working on similar technologies”. In other words, Edison being the person to invent what he did is not ultimately crucial to scientific history. As I’ve already explained, Tesla’s ideas were far more original and crucial. Edison, having been Tesla’s former boss, even discounted Tesla’s ideas for an AC system when he heard them. Tesla had to fight harder than any inventor, including but not limited to Edison, in order to make his ideas known. Skeptics of Tesla’s also like to argue that his influence is negated by Edison’s because Edison is more well known. However, there is a major flaw in this argument; a lack of visibility does not equate to a lack of impact. Also, Tesla’s electric incandescent lamp actually served as a basis for Edison’s most famous invention of the light bulb. Tesla’s interaction with Edison facilitated his success, demonstrating just one instance of how Tesla’s innovation inspired other scientists and inventors.
Likewise, Tesla’s ideas influenced many other inventors. He described of one of his methods of transformation of electrical energy, “This has been used by Poulsen and it is now called the ‘Poulsen arc’ and ‘Poulsen system.’” Louis Poulsen is now a leading distributor of lighting products. Again, while someone like Edison’s influence on lighting and electricity may be more well-known, Tesla’s impact runs far deeper. Ultimately, the success that Tesla created was not just his own, but that of others as well. His highly advanced conceptions provided inspiration for countless other individuals in his

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