Impacts

Learn how Illinois innovations impacted subsequent technologies and developments, including side-by-side comparisons how these innovations have changed our world.

 I  indicates this innovation has a corresponding location at the University of Illinois that you can visit. See the "Places to Visit" tab for more information.

Impacts of...  

Astronomy

  • Sensitive Photovoltaic Cell, used at observatories to detect faint star light 
  • Vermillion River Observatory Radio Telescope

Civil, Mechanical, and Transportation Systems and Structures

  • Bridge Joints with High-Strength Bolts instead of Rivets 
  • Forced-Air Heating 
  • Holland Tunnel Ventilation System, a ventilation system for the underwater vehicular tunnel
  • Improvement of Reinforced Concrete Slabs under various Support Conditions  
  • Rigid-Frame Bridge, a bridge in which the surface and supports are one solid structure
  • Moment Distribution Method/The Hardy Cross Method, a structural analysis method for statically indeterminate beams and frames
  • Talbot Spiral/Railroad Transition Spiral, a flexible method of laying out gradual, jolt-free railroad curve  
  • Solving the Railroad Rail Failure Mystery 
  • Structural Design for Earthquake Engineering

Communications, Navigation, and Guidance

  • Broadband Antennas (Log-Periodic & Log-Spiral)  
  • Electrostatic Vacuum Gyroscope, a form of radar that uses relative motion
  • Advancement of Microwave Generating Tubes and Split Anode Magnetrons
  • Development of MTI (Moving Target Indicating) Radar
  • Side-Looking Radar, a radar mounted on airplanes or satellite  
  • First Demonstration of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), a form of radar that uses relative motion

Computer Science and Software

  • Acoustic Charge Transport, a means of speeding up signal processing 
  • New Directions in Coding Theory and Binary Sequence Sets
  • Early work in Cybernetics - Self Organizing Systems
  • Flight Simulator, a simulation which paved the way for future flight simulators
  • ILLIAC I, II, III, IV, a series of pioneering supercomputers  
  • Mosaic Web Browser, an early browser that popularized the World Wide Web  
  • First Online Gaming Community
  • Plasma Displaya flat panel screen display  
  • PLATO, the first computer-assisted education platform  
  • Tutor Programming Language, a programming language developed for use on PLATO

Education

  • Founding of American Society of Engineering Education  
  • First Engineering Experiment Station in the U.S. 
  • PLATO, the first computer-assisted education platform  
  • Social Networking

Electronics

  • Automatic Test Pattern Generation (ATPG), a method for automatic test equipment to determine correct circuit behavior
  • Flexible Electronicsflexible circuit boards used in computer keyboards 
  • Light Emitting Diode
  • Advancement of Microwave Generating Tubes and Split Anode Magnetrons
  • Plasma Displaya flat panel screen display  
  • First demonstration of Quantum-Well Laser, a laser that can achieve shorter wavelengths
  • Sensitive Photovoltaic Cell, used at observatories to detect faint star light
  • Improvements in Vertical Cavity Lasers (VCSELs)

Health, Biology, and Safety

  • Binaural Hearing Aid, a hearing aid designed for use in both ears with the dominant ear tuned to recognize higher frequencies
  • Holland Tunnel Ventilation System, a ventilation system for the underwater vehicular tunnel
  • Self Healing Materials, materials that can repair mechanical damage over time and inspired by biological organisms
  • Advanced Development of the Septic Tank   
  • Smart Ice-Management Systeman aircraft alert system that detects ice buildup during flight
  • Structural Design for Earthquake Engineering 
  • Ultrasound Brain Surgery, a non-invasive approach to brain surgery

Materials Science

  • Flexible Electronicsflexible circuit boards used in computer keyboards
  • Self Healing Materials, materials that can repair mechanical damage over time and inspired by biological organisms

Music, Fine Arts and Entertainment

  • Online Gaming Community 
  • Plasma Display, a flat panel screen display, flat panel television  
  • SAL MAR Construction, a computer-based musical instrument  
  • Social Networking
  • Sound on Film, a system of recording and reproducing synchronized sound on motion picture film

Physics

  • Betatron, a cyclic particle accelerator  
  • First Electron Beam Diode Pumped Laser
  • Practical Improvements for Photocells using Alkali Hybrids
  • First demonstration of Quantum-Well Laser, a laser that can achieve shorter wavelengths
  • BCS Theory of Superconductivity, a lossless electrical current formed through the formation of pairs of electrons