Designed by Freepik – The assembly line is a significant manufacturing process that has made mass production easier
Mass production has helped make premium technology common and accessible for middle-class citizens. Before mass production, premium technology was handmade and uniquely designed. This meant that the supply of that certain technology was very low, which meant it was a luxury only afforded by upper-class citizens.
The following three technologies have been mass produced and is widely available to the public. Also, a brief history of their time of invention and their evolution will be discussed.
1. Mobile phones
50 years ago, the idea of carrying a phone in your pocket was unheard of.
The first mobile phone, the Motorola DynaTAC 8000x, was designed in 1983 by Dr. Martin Cooper. It weighs 2.5 lbs. (1.1kg) and costed $4,000 when it hit the market. A phone conversation would only last 30 minutes due to limitations at the time. The battery life was also low, at 6 hours.
The first SMS message was sent in the UK in 1992.
In the mid-90s, UK household phone ownership was less than twenty percent, eventually going up to 80% in the mid-2000s.
Smartphones started to increase in prevalence in the late 2000s/early 2010s, thanks to the invention of the iPhone. By the mid-2010s, most Americans and people in other high-income nations got their hands on a smartphone.
The mass production of cellphones/smartphones have allowed lower, and middle-class citizens to acquire one for a cheap price. A 300-dollar smartphone in 2024 is far more efficient than the overpriced Motorola mentioned earlier.
2. Cars
Cars were invented in the 1880s. Around the time of their invention, each and every one was uniquely hand-built, which meant that they were expensive.
The mass production of cars began in the early 20th century. By the 1950s, the majority of cars were produced via assembly lines, and the average middle class household in the US were able to afford one.
Read more about the history of the invention of cars here
Now in the 21st century, even lower-class citizens in developed nations can get their hands on a car.
3. International travel by air
Although this isn’t a piece of technology, this is a method of travel revolving around a relatively recent technology that arose in the early 20th century.
The first airplane was built by the Wright brothers and was first flown on December 17th, 1903.
As airplanes evolved, international air travel became established around the 1920s. However, this was mostly reserved for significant people like businessmen, government officials, and wealthy citizens.
The airplanes were not so efficient. Traveling wasn’t as fast or comfortable as it is today, and airplanes had to make several stops for fuel throughout a single journey.
Throughout the 20th century, significant advancements were made in aviation technology, which allowed larger planes, and more fuel efficiency. As aviation technology advanced, air travel became cheaper and more convenient.
sources
https://www.uswitch.com/mobiles/guides/history-of-mobile-phones/
https://www.ooma.com/blog/home-phone/cell-phone-cost-comparison/
https://airandspace.si.edu/explore/stories/evolution-commercial-flying-experience