write an informational essay describing the main character traits of inventors.
Source 3: Louis Braille
Have you ever noticed when you step into an elevator that next to the buttons showing the floor numbers, there are small plates with a series of raised dots and bumps? Did you ever wonder what those bumps and dots mean and why they are there? When you run your fingers over those plates, you feel the ridges. When blind people touch them, they read the floor numbers. In a grid of six bumps, with two across and three down, a configuration of two raised bumps across the top and one down on the right side is the number 4; one dot on the top left side and two across the middle is the number 8.
Who invented this elaborate setup of bumps and dots that comprise an entire alphabet and numerical system that allows blind people to read with their fingers? Was it a distinguished scientist, or a brilliant author, or perhaps a famous artist?
Actually, this system, which is called braille, was created by a blind 12-year-old French boy and was named for him. Louis was not always blind. He became blind by accident. Louis Braille was born on January 4, 1809 in a small country village near Paris called Coupvray. His father was a leather worker who made harnesses and other leather goods. One day, when he was just three years old, Louis was in his father’s leather workshop. Like many young children, Louis enjoyed imitating his father. He was fiddling with an awl, a small tool with a round wooden handle and a sharp, pointed metal tip that is used to punch holes in leather. While he was playing, the awl slipped and poked Louis in the eye. A doctor treated the wound as best he could and patched the eye. But the eye became infected, and the infection spread to the other eye. Within a short time, young Louis was totally blind in both eyes.
In those days, many blind people became beggars or performers in sideshows. But Louis’s parents refused to allow their son’s disability to get in the way of his studies or his life. Louis attended school like his brothers and sisters, relying on his creativity, intelligence, and drive to overcome obstacles. To help him navigate the village, his father made him canes. The local priest taught him to use his other senses to learn: his hearing to distinguish the calls of different birds, and his sense of smell to identify different plants and flowers. Louis was one of the brightest students in his school.
In 1819, at age 10, Louis earned a scholarship to attend the Royal Institute for Blind Youth in Paris, the first school in the world devoted to blind children. For Louis, going to the school meant leaving his family and the village he knew well, where he felt safe. But Louis and his family knew the school offered him the best opportunity to get an education and lead a successful life. There he excelled in studying history, math, science, and grammar, but he proved especially gifted at music. Louis became an accomplished pianist and organist. He even got a paid job as an organist, playing in a small church near the institute.
The students at the school learned most of their subjects by listening to lessons. But there were a few books that the school’s founder, a man named Valentin Hauy, had developed by printed raised, or embossed, letters. Reading that way was slow, and the books were large and heavy. But they were the only books available then for blind people. Louis Braille began to wonder: wasn’t there a better way to allow blind people to read?
One day Louis learned about the work of a former French army captain named Charles Barbier. Captain Barbier had invented something called “night writing,” a code of 12 raised dots and dashes that allowed soldiers to communicate with one another at night without using lights that would alert the enemy to their location. The soldiers could “feel” the messages with their fingers, and keep safe. The code turned out to be too complex for the soldiers, but it inspired Louis Braille. Louis simplified the system, reduced the series of dots from twelve to six and eliminated the dashes. By the time he was 20, Louis published his first alphabet for the blind, a system he continued to work on and perfect.
And how did Louis create the dots he used in his revolutionary new system? He used an awl. The very tool that caused his blindness became the instrument that brought the opportunity for reading to Louis and generations of blind people to this day.
The world was slow to accept Louis Braille’s innovation. Indeed, during his lifetime, his method was not widely accepted. Louis Braille died at the young age of 43 from tuberculosis, a devastating respiratory disease. He was buried in his home village of Coupvray.
In time, Braille’s method became accepted around the world. “Braille” alphabets were created in languages spanning the globe. Today, we find them not only on elevator plates, but also on computers and cell phones. And the name Louis Braille stands for innovation, courage, and determination.
Source 2: Alexander Graham Bell
Alexander Graham Bell was in his laboratory, working on a device that would allow people to talk to one another through wires, even when they were not in the same room, or even the same city. Today, we take for granted that we can communicate in real time with people around the corner and around the globe. But in the 1870’s, when Bell was experimenting with his new project, such an idea was like a fantasy.
On March 10, 1876, that fantasy came to life. It is unclear what exactly unfolded that day, but one story says that while working on his voice transmitter, Bell accidentally knocked over a bottle of transmitting fluid, burning his skin. Instinctively, he called out to his assistant, Thomas Watson, to come help: “Mr. Watson. Come here. I want to see you.”
Watson heard those words and was startled. They had come crackling across the earpiece of what the two inventors had labeled the telephone. The experiment was successful. It was the first telephone call.
Alexander Graham Bell’s interest in communications devices traced back to his childhood in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was born on March 3, 1847 to a father who was an expert in speech production and a mother who was a gifted pianist despite being profoundly deaf. The perseverance and success of his mother in the face of such adversity taught young Alexander that problems were surmountable and that he could help people to overcome them.
From a young age, Alexander’s curiosity propelled him to find solutions to problems. When he was 12 years old, he came up with his first invention. While playing in a grain mill with a friend, he was frustrated by the lengthy time it took to remove the husk from the wheat grain. He went home, thought about it, and created a gadget that used rotating paddles and nail brushes to strip the husk off the grain. It was the first of dozens of varied devices that Bell would invent.
Bell’s curiosity and ingenuity were nurtured by his grandfather, a teacher of speech and elocution. When Bell was 15 years old, he went to live with and care for his grandfather, who was aging and ailing. The two grew very close, and the grandfather encouraged Alexander to pursue his inventive streak.
In 1870, the Bell family’s life changed rather abruptly when they moved to Canada. Bell’s two older brothers had died of tuberculosis, and Alexander’s health had been failing, too. His parents were convinced that America would be a healthier environment and moved, first to Ontario, Canada, then to Boston. Bell thrived. His health improved. Eventually, he began to tutor deaf students in Boston.
The parents of two of his students were excited by Bell’s idea to invent a device that transmitted multiple signals over a single wire. One of the parents learned, however, that another inventor, Elisha Gray, was working on a very similar project at the same time. To encourage Bell and to help rush his work along, the parent hired an electrician by the name of Thomas Watson to be Bell’s assistant. He hoped that between Bell’s clever ideas and Watson’s practical skills, the two men would succeed quickly. However, instead of focusing on a multiple-signal transmission device, Bell and Watson focused much of their time on a device to transmit the human voice over wires. To protect their experiment, Bell and Watson’s voice-transmitting device was registered with the United States patent office. Lewis Latimer, another inventor, helped Bell by drafting the drawings of the device for the patent. The patent was well timed: Gray attempted to file for his own “telephone” the very same day, but he was turned away because the idea was already protected and owned by Bell and his supporters.
On that March morning in 1876, Bell’s dream was achieved when the words “Mr. Watson. Come here. I want to see you” traveled from the room Bell was in to the room Watson was in across telephone wires. The two men took their incredible telephone device on the road, demonstrating its proficiency in city after city. The year after his telephone came to life, Bell married Mabel Hubbard, one of the deaf students whose fathers supported Bell’s dream of inventing the telephone.
Bell was challenged dozens of times in lawsuits by people trying to discredit his patent, especially by other inventors who claimed to have invented the telephone before him. He won every time. Bell created the Bell Telephone Company, and in the first 10 years of its existence, telephone ownership in the United States grew to more than 150,000 people. Bell improved the device over the years. For example, he added a microphone that amplified the voice. He also went on to invent and patent many other devices that would have pleased his mother because of the way they helped people to solve problems.
When Bell died on August 2, 1922 in Nova Scotia, Canada, the entire telephone system was shut down for one minute in tribute to the man who revolutionized communications.
Inventors are individuals who possess several distinct character traits that enable them to innovate and create groundbreaking inventions. Two examples of inventors with notable character traits are Louis Braille and Alexander Graham Bell.
Firstly, inventors are often driven by curiosity and a desire to solve problems. Louis Braille, for instance, was motivated by a need to find a better way for blind people to read. Despite being blind himself, Braille's curiosity led him to explore different methods of communication for the visually impaired. Similarly, Bell's curiosity and inventive streak led him to continuously search for solutions to problems, such as his invention of the telephone to enable long-distance communication.
Secondly, inventors often demonstrate perseverance and determination. Braille's path to developing the Braille system was not easy. Despite facing numerous obstacles, such as the initial rejection of his system, Braille continued to perfect his invention. His determination allowed him to eventually overcome the resistance and pave the way for blind individuals to access written information. Similarly, Bell faced challenges and legal disputes throughout his career, but his determination to protect his patents and demonstrate the usefulness of the telephone resulted in the widespread adoption of this revolutionary invention.
Furthermore, inventors often exhibit creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. Braille's transformation of Captain Charles Barbier's complex military code into a simpler and more accessible system for blind individuals showcases his creative approach to problem-solving. Similarly, Bell's ability to envision a world where individuals could communicate over long distances through wires demonstrates his imaginative thinking and willingness to challenge conventional wisdom.
Lastly, inventors often possess a strong sense of empathy and a desire to help others. Braille's invention was driven by his desire to provide blind individuals with the ability to read and access information independently. His understanding of the challenges faced by visually impaired individuals and his dedication to improving their lives highlight his empathetic nature. Bell's dedication to teaching deaf students and his invention of the telephone, which facilitated communication for the hearing-impaired, further demonstrate his compassion and desire to improve the lives of others.
In conclusion, inventors possess a unique set of character traits that enable them to revolutionize the world through their inventions. Curiosity, perseverance, creativity, empathy, and a desire to solve problems are just a few of the traits that define inventors like Louis Braille and Alexander Graham Bell. Their remarkable contributions to society serve as inspirations for future generations of inventors and innovators.
make it longer
Inventors are exceptional individuals who possess a wide range of character traits that enable them to innovate and create groundbreaking inventions. Two notable inventors who exemplify these traits are Louis Braille and Alexander Graham Bell.
One of the most prominent traits of inventors is their insatiable curiosity and their innate desire to solve problems. Louis Braille, for instance, was driven by his curiosity to find a better way for blind people to read. Despite being blind himself, Braille's curiosity led him to explore different methods of communication for the visually impaired. Through his determination, he developed the Braille system, which revolutionized the way blind individuals access written information. Similarly, Alexander Graham Bell's curiosity and inventive streak led him to continuously search for solutions to problems. His desire to communicate over long distances and his countless experiments eventually resulted in the invention of the telephone.
Another key trait exhibited by inventors is their persistence and unwavering determination. Louis Braille faced numerous obstacles on his journey to develop the Braille system. Initially, his system was met with resistance, and people were skeptical about its effectiveness. However, Braille's perseverance enabled him to refine and perfect his invention, ultimately gaining recognition and acceptance worldwide. Similarly, Alexander Graham Bell encountered challenges and legal disputes throughout his career. However, his unwavering determination to protect his patents and prove the utility of the telephone resulted in its widespread adoption and transformed the way people communicate.
In addition, inventors are known for their creativity and ability to think outside the box. Louis Braille's transformation of Captain Charles Barbier's complex military code into a simpler and more accessible system for blind individuals demonstrates his creative approach to problem-solving. Braille's ability to envision letters and words through patterns of raised dots showcases his innovative thinking. Similarly, Bell's visionary ideas and ability to imagine a world where individuals could communicate over long distances through wires exemplify his imaginative thinking and willingness to challenge conventional wisdom.
Furthermore, inventors often possess a strong sense of empathy and a desire to help others. Louis Braille's invention was driven by his empathy and understanding of the challenges faced by visually impaired individuals. His ultimate goal was to provide blind individuals with the ability to read and access information independently. In a similar vein, Alexander Graham Bell's dedication to teaching deaf students and his invention of the telephone, which facilitated communication for the hearing-impaired, highlight his compassion and desire to improve the lives of others.
In conclusion, inventors possess a unique set of character traits that enable them to revolutionize the world through their inventions. Curiosity, perseverance, creativity, empathy, and a desire to solve problems are just a few of the traits that define inventors like Louis Braille and Alexander Graham Bell. Their remarkable contributions to society serve as inspirations for future generations of inventors and innovators, showcasing the incredible impact that one individual's character traits can have on the world.
Inventors are known for their unique character traits that drive them to create new and innovative solutions to problems. Two prominent inventors, Louis Braille and Alexander Graham Bell, exemplify these traits in their remarkable achievements.
Firstly, inventors possess a high level of creativity. They are able to think outside the box and come up with original ideas. Louis Braille's creativity allowed him to develop the braille system, which revolutionized reading for the blind. After hearing about Charles Barbier's night writing code, Braille simplified and adapted it into a system of raised dots that could be read by touch. This creative thinking provided a means of communication and access to literature for blind individuals worldwide.
Similarly, Alexander Graham Bell's inventive mind led him to create the telephone. When faced with the challenge of transmitting multiple signals over a single wire, Bell and his assistant, Thomas Watson, redirected their focus to transmitting the human voice. Bell's inventive thinking allowed him to make the first telephone call, which marked a significant advancement in communication technology.
Another important trait of inventors is perseverance. They do not give up easily and are willing to face challenges and setbacks. Louis Braille's life was marred by blindness after a childhood accident. However, he refused to let his disability hinder his ambitions. Despite initial resistance to his braille system, Braille persisted in refining and promoting his invention until it gained acceptance worldwide.
Similarly, Alexander Graham Bell faced numerous legal battles attempting to discredit his patent for the telephone. However, he persevered and successfully defended his invention, ultimately establishing the Bell Telephone Company. Bell's determination and resilience allowed him to overcome obstacles and bring about a communication revolution.
Lastly, inventors demonstrate a strong sense of empathy and a desire to help others. Both Braille and Bell were motivated by a genuine desire to improve the lives of people facing challenges. Louis Braille's inventiveness aimed to provide literacy to the blind and empower them through education. Alexander Graham Bell, influenced by his mother's deafness, devoted himself to devising communication devices to assist the hearing impaired.
In conclusion, inventors possess a range of character traits that drive their accomplishments. Creativity, perseverance, empathy, and a desire to solve problems are key attributes that enable them to bring forth groundbreaking innovations. The contributions of inventors like Louis Braille and Alexander Graham Bell have left a lasting impact and continue to inspire future generations of inventors.