Steve Jobs known as ‘IT’ “probably the most wonderful piece of generation for the reason that PC”. In keeping with Jeff Bezos ‘IT’ used to be no longer simplest “modern”, but additionally infinitely industrial. IT used to be a fiendishly suave and hugely hyped invention. However in any case ‘IT’ — often referred to as the Segway — crashed and burned.
What makes an invention helpful and precious? Jimi Heselden’s pragmatic brainchild the Concertainer would possibly cling the solutions. First used to shore up the collapsing partitions of a canal, it in the end solved issues that Jimi had by no means imagined.
Cautionary Stories is written by means of me, Tim Harford, with Andrew Wright. It’s produced by means of Alice Fiennes, with strengthen from Edith Rousselot.
The sound design and unique song is the paintings of Pascal Wyse. Julia Barton edited the scripts.
Because of the group at Pushkin Industries, together with Jacob Weisberg, Ryan Dilley, Heather Fain, Jon Schnaars, Carly Migliori, Eric Sandler, Emily Rostek, Royston Beserve, Nicole Morano, Daniella Lakhan and Maya Koenig.
You probably have questions for our Listener Q&A episodes please ship them to stories@pushkin.fm. Or, you’ll go away a voice word at 914- 984 – 7650 (US quantity, so world charges might observe). Please remember that we might use your query at the display.
Additional Studying
Reinventing the Wheel: A Tale of Genius, Innovation, and Grand Ambition, Steve Kemper, HarperCollins, 2005
This Is Going to Trade the International, Dan Kois, Slate, 1 August 2021
Reinventing the Wheel, John Heilemann, Time, 2 December 2001
Obituaries for and information tales about Jimi Heselden within the Unbiased, the Father or mother, the BBC, the Yorkshire Submit, and the Yorkshire Night Submit.
