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THE INVENTION: Cruise control’s that (wonderful, wonderful) thing that helps you avoid speeding tickets. Yup, everybody loves cruise control. Unlike many of the other ignored inventions, this handy accessory does get some acknowledgement. Unfortunately, that’s only when it’s either impossible to find on that little stick that turns on the blinkers, or when it’s broken.
WHO TO THANK: a blind man. No, seriously! His name’s Ralph Teetor, and he spent his whole life inventing things to make cars better. Teetor was blinded in a shop accident at age five, but apparently harbored no resentment for sharp tools. He went on to attend college and became one of the most respected mechanical engineers of his era. Although he was responsible for a lot of vehicular improvements, including automatic transmission, he’s best known for making it possible for even lead-foots to stick to one speed. Inspiration struck during World War II, when the government set a 35 mph speed limit to conserve gas and tires—which is great and all, but some people just can’t drive 35. Like, for instance, Teetor’s lawyer. After a particularly bad trip during which the lawyer’s jerky driving made Teetor carsick, the inventor came up with a device that could regulate car speed without the driver touching the gas pedal. A few tweaks and many dubious names (including “controlomatic” and “speedostat”) later, cruise control premiered in selected 1958 Chrysler models. It was then an $86 option known as “Auto-Pilot.”
BUT THE TRULY AMAZING THING IS THAT: Teetor’s blindness actually improved his ability to invent new things. In the process of learning how to function in a world he couldn’t see, he developed an exceptional ability to visualize objects and guide himself via touch. In 1902, he built an automobile that let him tool around town at up to 25 mph. A neat feat by itself, but he was only 12 at the time. Later, he applied his skills to engineering and was able to solve problems sighted engineers couldn’t. During World War I, he developed a new technique for balancing steam turbines on torpedo boat destroyers. Other engineers had tried for years to solve the problem, but Teetor’s heightened sense of touch gave him the advantage. His expertise was so well known that he later became president of the Society of Automotive Engineers.
–note– if you liked this entry, it’s thanks to Maggie Koerth and her wonderful Inventions Cover story. I believe that issue’s sold out, but other back issues of the floss are available at our online store.
Comments (14)
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Wow fascinating. I love hearing about inventors and the ways in wgich they have changed our lives.
posted by Varient on 6-25-2007 at 3:59 pm
Great story! It’s people like this that makes the world go ’round and keeps me smiling from day to day.
posted by Sarah on 6-28-2007 at 5:37 am
Inspirational!
posted by Robert on 6-28-2007 at 12:13 pm
This is an amazing article for scientists, engineers, and the physically challenged. It is so surprising how many simple things that we take for granted were created by people that we would never think capable of such things.
Truly a motivation to all of those aspiring engineers, and those who wish to change the world.
posted by KTM on 10-8-2007 at 10:51 pm
I loved it! I think a person like that should inspire all those who say “I can’t”. Great article!
posted by Andrea on 10-25-2007 at 6:31 am
Another blind inventor was Swedish, Gustaf Dahlén, who invented the ’sun valve’ that could turn off acethylene driven lighthouses during daytime and save a lot of gas.
posted by Jan Hjelm on 11-5-2007 at 11:43 am
Blind? No way!
I didn’t think someone who couldn’t drive at all would invent something like that…
posted by Kristine on 11-14-2007 at 6:45 pm
Wait a second… he was tooling around town in a car when he was 12 and blind?? Isn’t that stretching the whole heightened sense thing a bit??
Not that I don’t appreciate the man, he’s bailed me out more than a few times with that autopilot thing :D
posted by Katy on 12-13-2007 at 11:24 pm
Wow, this is kind of like a real life Geordi from Star Trek! :) Very inspirational!!!
posted by Erelen on 1-4-2008 at 9:40 pm
Internet was invented by a deaf guy! Vint Cerf is the Father of the Internet and he is DEAF.
THanks to the Deaf and Blind people for their wonderful invention.
posted by David on 8-22-2008 at 5:36 am
Beautiful !! And to think, I fumble WITH sight. My gratefulness to such a positive, gifted and inspiring person.
posted by Jaybird on 9-15-2008 at 2:45 pm
If i was blind the only thing i could invent would be the dent in the wall! Thats a wonderful story!
posted by eve on 3-8-2009 at 3:06 am
When I was in the 8th grade the school I went to had a Princapal who was blind. This man would walked the hallways and covered walkways where rooms on one side and an open courtyard on the other. the court side had a steel pole about every 12 to 15 feet. He never used a cane or assistance to get around and i naver saw him stray off course or bump into anything. And when I was on the high school wrestling team one day he came by and asked the coach if he could work out with a wrestler so the coach put him with me as we were the same weight, i was 165 lbs. but wrestled at 191 lbs (I took forth in league final. just to give an idea of my strength). I would swear the man knew what I was going to do next just by the flex of my muscles! There was no way I could get away from this man or break his hold on me! It was an awesome experience and also quite humbling. Thank you Mr. schmitt
posted by Mike on 8-11-2009 at 12:22 am
I drive cars all day for an auto auction and use the cruise control constantly as I cannot afford to supplement the police department with my paycheck. This was an awesome story. I will think of it every time I use it from now on.
posted by Jean on 8-22-2009 at 3:35 am