From War Room to Living Room

The military''s focus on innovation and problem-solving has led to the creation of numerous items and technologies that have transcended the battlefield and become commonplace in our daily lives. This accessible reference volume explores 40 of these innovations, from duct tape to microwaves, focusing on the people and events that made each possible. Entries follow a standardized format that covers both the development and initial military applications of each innovation as well as its transition into civilian life. Readers will gain a better understanding of the challenges military leaders have faced for hundreds of years that have spurred these innovations, from keeping tabs on enemy movements to keeping soldiers healthy and well-fed. Each entry also explores the historical antecedents of the innovation, helping readers contextualize the evolution of objects and ideas. A carefully curated list of further readings rounds out each entry, pointing readers toward additional resources for more in-depth study. For readers wishing to focus on a particular category of innovation, a thematic list of entries at the beginning of the volume will help them narrow their search.>

Préface
Discover the military origins of more than 45 everyday items and technologies, from duct tape and Kleenex to microwaves and the internet.

Auteur
Tish Davidson is a medical writer specializing in making accurate technical information accessible and enjoyable for a general readership. She is the author of Medical Firsts: Innovations and Milestones That Changed the World (Bloomsbury, 2023), Hormones: Your Questions Answered (Greenwood, 2022), What You Need to Know about Diabetes (Greenwood, 2020), The Vaccine Debate (Greenwood, 2018), and Vaccines: History, Science, and Issues (Greenwood, 2017), as well as numerous books for children. Scott Davidson works in and explains high technology as an expert in microprocessor design and test. He directed research on testing at Bell Labs. He has a BS from MIT and a PhD from the University of Louisiana. For over 25 years he has written a column where he finds accessible points of interest in highly technical papers.

Contenu
Thematic List of Innovations
Acknowledgments
Preface
Introduction

Aerosol Spray Cans
Ambulances
Atomic Power
Aviator Sunglasses
Blood Banks
Cancer Chemotherapy Drugs
Canned Food
Cheetos
Computers
Digital Photography
Drones
Duct Tape
Encryption
Energy Bars
EpiPen
Freeze-Dried Instant Coffee
Global Positioning System (GPS)
Helmets
Industrial Fertilizer
Internet
Jeeps
Jerry Cans
Jet Engines
Kleenex Facial Tissues
Kotex Sanitary Napkins
M&M Candies
Margarine
Microwave Ovens
Orange Juice Concentrate
Penicillin
Plastic Surgery
Preservative-Free Ham
Protheses
Radar
Rockets
Satellites
Sonar
Standardized Parts
Super Glue
Swiss Army Knife
Synthetic Rubber
Trench Coat
Triage
T-Shirts
WD-40
Yellow Fever Vaccine

About the Authors and Contributors
Index