Products Invented In Unusual Ways

The scientific method is usually pretty straightforward. It’s an almost endless chain of trial and error, resulting in that one attempt where it finally works out the way you want it to. It takes a lot of time, a lot of money and a lot of effort from all people involved.

Some products were involved slightly differently, however. Let’s take a look at some products that were invented in unorthodox ways.

The Webcam
This was actually invented not to video chat with people not physically in the same room; it was invented by the University of Cambridge so people could check the coffee supply without physically moving to the coffee machine. Yup. That’s how addicted to coffee those people are.

The Slinky
Despite being mostly known for being able to go down stairs endlessly, slinkies were invented for one purpose only: to monitor a ship’s movement on rough seas. As it happens, the creator accidentally knocked it from a shelf and that’s how the slinky we all know and love was born.

The Parachute
I mean, there couldn’t possibly be another reason for this to be invented rather than not plummeting to your death when jumping out of an airplane, right? Wrong! It was actually invented to help people escape from burning buildings. I’m guessing it never really caught on because parachutes are, well, not fire-proof.