Since 1973, the National Inventors Hall of Fame has inducted some history's brightest minds and most influential innovators into its ranks — Edison and Tesla counted among them.
On May 5, the nonprofit will formally induct this year's inventors.
Each one met the criteria of holding a US patent and "has contributed significantly to the nation's welfare and the advancement of science and the useful arts," a representative from the Hall of Fame tells Tech Insider.
Here's this year's class.
Victor Lawrence — signal processing in telecommunications
Dr. Lawrence spent the bulk of his career at Bell Laboratories, where he developed a way to quickly move data over phone lines without overcrowding the bandwidth.
His inventions set the foundation for voice-band modems and DSL, both early means of access to the internet.
"By enabling the high-speed transmission of more data, Lawrence helped turn the internet into a global industry useful for more than simple text-based functions," the Inventors Hall of Fame states.
William Sparks — butyl rubber
Like many wartime innovations, butyl rubber managed to outlast its temporary usefulness.
Sparks' invention alongside Robert Thomas was originally designed as an artificial replacement for regular rubber, whose overseas supply had been cut due to World War II.
Eventually, it was brought over into civilian life for use in rubber sealant, inner tubes for tires, footballs, basketballs, and, in food-grade form, chewing gum.
Bantval Jayant Baliga — insulated gate bipolar transistor
Baliga's invention is a power switch that reduces gasoline consumption by 10% and improves electrical energy efficiency by more than 40%.
Over the last 25 years, that has resulted in an energy savings of 100 trillion pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.
The IGBT can be found in household appliances, solar panels, cars, medical equipment, and just about anything that uses high voltage.
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