From 2.4-pound phones to self-passes: a collection of historical firsts
In short: History is often defined by the first time a barrier was broken. Whether it is the first barcode scanned in an Ohio supermarket or the first non-English song to top the American charts, these pivotal moments shaped the modern world and the unexpected ways they occurred.
The origins of our modern infrastructure are often found in unexpected places. The first UPC barcode was scanned on a pack of Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit gum in June 1974 at Marsh’s supermarket in Troy, Ohio. Similarly, the first mobile communication technology was far from portable; the first cell phone weighed 2.4 pounds and measured 9x5x1.75 inches. While it offered only 20 minutes of talk time, Motorola employee Martin Cooper noted the limitation was manageable given the difficulty of holding such a device for extended periods. Charging that initial battery required approximately 10 hours.
In the realm of human achievement and culture, firsts range from the astronomical to the musical. While humans first landed on the moon at the Sea of Calms, the history of timekeeping dates back much further to the Tower of Winds in Athens. Constructed between the 2nd century BC and 50 BC, this structure functioned as the first clock tower, utilizing eight sundials, a water clock, and a wind vane. In popular music, the 1958 hit 'Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu' (Volare) by Domenico Modugno made history on August 18, 1958, as the first non-English number one on the Billboard Hot 100, eventually selling over 22 million copies.
Even personal milestones and professional legacies are marked by singular events. The first recognized 'Baby Boomer,' Kathleen Casey-Kirschling, was born at St. Agnes Hospital in Philadelphia on January 1, 1946. In the medical field, Merit Ptah served as Egypt's 'Chief Physician' around 2700 B.C. Even the most legendary athletes have awkward beginnings; NFL player Brett Favre's first official play in the 1992 season involved throwing a pass to himself after a defender deflected the ball, resulting in a 7-yard loss.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 12 "First Times Ever" You Need to Know!
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