Two questions

Can a machine change the world?

In the early 1900’s Henry Ford pioneered the economies of scale and developed an assembly line to crank out millions of Model T’s.  America, and quite possibly the world, hasn’t been the same since.

The Model T not only revolutionized transportation and industry, it helped to create a new middle class that could actually afford to purchase the goods it made.

In addition to mass production and the assembly line, the Model T standardized the left hand steering wheel, enclosed engine and transmission, a solid block casting for the engine and semi-elliptic springs for the suspension.

The Model T truly changed the world.  Nice Job Henry!

Can design change the world?

Some 50 years later propellers were still moving airplanes through the sky, but the jet age was looming.  American and European plane makers rushed to be first with efficient passenger airplanes.

Boeing selected our very own Walter Dorwin Teague to design an interior for a revolutionary new jet powered aircraft.  Teague’s Project Manager, Frank Del Giudice wrote a proposal to Boeings Ed Wells stating that it was essential to broaden the scope of the project to include consumer acceptance. Frank laid out a plan to build a top-secret mock up that would be complete in every detail, including functioning lavatories and galleys.

Over 16,000 man-hours of design, and 26,000 hours of construction went in to this groundbreaking project. The cost was over half a million dollars, and by Boeing direction, not even executives reviewed the mock up until it was completed.

Over a two-year period the 7,000 Mock up visitors were given a simulated flight that included being greeted and seated by a uniformed stewardess, a welcome to the future of aviation message from the Captain, and a review of the airplanes innovative features.  Next came the recorded sound of jet engines, and the stewardess’s message to fasten your seatbelts and observe the no smoking signs.  Remember, at this time no one knew how passengers would react to these strange new sounds.  After take off, the flight continued and the engines faded to a low “whoosh”, and a full meal service was provided.  Window lights then gradually dimmed with the oncoming dusk and   simultaneously the dome lights faded to a sunset-red glow.  When the windows were dark the dome lights changed to a midnight blue, sprinkled with the bright glitter of simulated stars.  It was as though the ceiling had been opened to the night sky above.  As the flight ended the rosy glow of dawn returned the amazed passengers to reality.

The cost for operating the mock up over a two-year period was four thousand dollars a month, but it was instrumental in selling almost a billion dollars worth of airplanes.

The incredible reliability and safety of modern transportation was still unproven when the 707 was introduced, but the it quickly won the hearts and minds of travelers by combining a long list of innovations that seem standard today.