# What individual designed the most ubiquitous object **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 8, 2020, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-individual-designed-the-most-ubiquitous-object/853418 "2020-05-08T16:54:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-individual-designed-the-most-ubiquitous-object/853418/21 "2020-05-09T00:31:20Z")
> [@ticker](#): > > László Bíró and his ballpoint pen. My guess is his name was actually Laszlo Biro, but those early pens leaked and left streaks all over the place. Another contender would be Ermal Fraze, inventor of the pop-top beverage can. ---
**Author:** ![JWT\_Kottekoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@JWT\_Kottekoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JWT_Kottekoe)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-individual-designed-the-most-ubiquitous-object/853418/22 "2020-05-09T04:26:42Z")
How about Binney and Smith, inventors of the Crayola crayon. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-individual-designed-the-most-ubiquitous-object/853418/23 "2020-05-09T04:42:40Z")
The MOSFET, invented by Mohamed Atalla and Dawon Kahng. Over 10 sextillion have been produced, and every one of us is sitting next to billions or trillions of them. Although embedded, any semiconductor engineer could identify one given the right equipment. They have minor differences in geometry, and significant differences in scale, but they are all fundamentally the same device. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-individual-designed-the-most-ubiquitous-object/853418/24 "2020-05-09T07:38:59Z")
The Schrader tire valve. Invented in 1891 and you have 4 or more on almost every motor vehicle in the world ever since that time. August Schrader founded the company much earlier (1844) and may not have been the individual inventor. Also on most low level bikes, ac systems, some SCUBA gear. ---
**Author:** ![Nansbread1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Nansbread1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nansbread1)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-individual-designed-the-most-ubiquitous-object/853418/25 "2020-05-09T12:16:23Z")
I suggest the aluminium drinks can. I guess this was patented by the inventor Ermal Fraze. Just try and count all the Coca Cola and Pepsi and beer cans. Will smash the zipper, button and needle right out of the park. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-individual-designed-the-most-ubiquitous-object/853418/26 "2020-05-09T15:33:48Z")
I’d go with Johannes Gutenberg, who invented movable type in 1439 and changed the world as we know it. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-individual-designed-the-most-ubiquitous-object/853418/27 "2020-05-09T16:34:30Z")
The first thing I thought of was Edison and the light bulb. But nowadays so many light bulbs are LED or CFL, it’s not the same technology as the original. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-individual-designed-the-most-ubiquitous-object/853418/28 "2020-05-09T16:43:40Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > My guess is his name was actually Laszlo Biro, but those early pens leaked and left streaks all over the place. > (…) \>smile\< ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-individual-designed-the-most-ubiquitous-object/853418/29 "2020-05-09T18:46:50Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > I’d go with Johannes Gutenberg, who invented movable type in 1439 and changed the world as we know it. You see a lot of movable type these days? Or even books printed with movable type? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-individual-designed-the-most-ubiquitous-object/853418/30 "2020-05-09T19:19:25Z")
> [@Kedikat](#): > > What about a pointed stick? Do you see a lot of people carrying pointed sticks where you are?:dubious: > [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Froog the Caveman and the wheel. What use would a caveman have for a wheel? ---
**Author:** ![Dickerman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@Dickerman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dickerman)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-individual-designed-the-most-ubiquitous-object/853418/31 "2020-05-10T01:17:37Z")
Who invented the cigarette? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-individual-designed-the-most-ubiquitous-object/853418/32 "2020-05-10T02:05:53Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > What use would a caveman have for a wheel? You can see a lot of examples in an interesting documentary series called _The Flintstones_. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-individual-designed-the-most-ubiquitous-object/853418/33 "2020-05-10T09:15:52Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Do you see a lot of people carrying pointed sticks where you are?:dubious: I definitely see more fresh fruit, so I know what I need to practice defending against. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-individual-designed-the-most-ubiquitous-object/853418/34 "2020-05-10T12:11:11Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > I definitely see more fresh fruit, so I know what I need to practice defending against. Brandish that banana! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-individual-designed-the-most-ubiquitous-object/853418/35 "2020-05-10T12:19:35Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > The MOSFET, invented by Mohamed Atalla and Dawon Kahng. Over 10 sextillion have been produced, and every one of us is sitting next to billions or trillions of them. > > Although embedded, any semiconductor engineer could identify one given the right equipment. They have minor differences in geometry, and significant differences in scale, but they are all fundamentally the same device. That’s a good one. I think it’s hard to beat for sheer ubiquitousness. I thought of [Nick Holonyak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Holonyak) and the (visible) light-emitting diode. They’re not nearly as numerous, but more conspicuous. Which is kind of their point, of course. ---
**Author:** ![dba\_Fred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c37758/32.png) [@dba\_Fred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dba_Fred)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-individual-designed-the-most-ubiquitous-object/853418/36 "2020-05-10T16:14:20Z")
The Coca-Cola bottle? Earl R. Dean, an employee at Root Glass, is credited with the design. > **[How Coke got its curves: Coca-Cola's contour bottle celebrates 100 years](https://www.beveragedaily.com/Article/2015/02/26/How-Coke-got-its-curves-Coca-Cola-s-contour-bottle-celebrates-100-years)** > > Coca-Cola has launched a global campaign featuring icons such as Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, and Ray Charles, as it celebrates the 100th birthday of its bottle.  ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-individual-designed-the-most-ubiquitous-object/853418/37 "2020-05-10T20:22:26Z")
> [@Dickerman](#): > > Who invented the cigarette? Boris Aivaz invented the [cigarette filter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cigarette_filter). They are not only ubiqitous, they last long. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2020, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-individual-designed-the-most-ubiquitous-object/853418/38 "2020-05-11T04:10:03Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > The MOSFET, invented by Mohamed Atalla and Dawon Kahng. Over 10 sextillion have been produced, and every one of us is sitting next to billions or trillions of them. > > Although embedded, any semiconductor engineer could identify one given the right equipment. They have minor differences in geometry, and significant differences in scale, but they are all fundamentally the same device. “[The MOSFET is the most widely manufactured device in history.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOSFET)” How have I never heard of something so important? ---
**Author:** ![JWT\_Kottekoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@JWT\_Kottekoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JWT_Kottekoe)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2020, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-individual-designed-the-most-ubiquitous-object/853418/39 "2020-05-11T04:25:14Z")
In the same vein as the MOS field effect transistor, one could cite the floating gate transistor, invented by Simon Sze. It is what enables USB sticks, solid-state drives, SD cards, and almost all forms of nonvolatile semiconductor memory. The numbers are similarly enormous and one might argue that it is just another kind of MOSFET, but I wanted to give a shout out to Simon. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2020, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-individual-designed-the-most-ubiquitous-object/853418/40 "2020-05-11T06:11:28Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > How have I never heard of something so important? To some extent, it’s just a variation on a transistor, and the specific details are only relevant to a circuit designer. I almost said “the transistor”, but that would have gone against the OP, since there are a zillion varieties and so it could be called a “technology” instead of a specific invention. But the silicon MOSFET is a distinct type, extremely well-suited to mass production and digital circuits. There’s no shortage of other transistors out there, but it’s the MOSFET that comprises the bulk of them due to being the transistor of choice for CPUs and main memory. I’ll admit, I did not remember the inventor’s names off the top of my head. I did know their organization (Bell Labs), though only because every damn thing was invented at Bell Labs in the 50s. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-individual-designed-the-most-ubiquitous-object/853418.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-individual-designed-the-most-ubiquitous-object/853418.md?page=3)