Windshield Wipers: An Invention of EmpathyHow one woman’s kindness made driving safer for all.
From the show
The Secret Life of ObjectsA simple act of empathy on a snowy day led to an invention we can't imagine driving without. In 1902, Mary Anderson saw a trolley driver struggling to see through the sleet and thought there had to be a better way. She designed a hand-operated blade to clear the glass from inside, a revolutionary idea at the time. Despite patenting her device, she never profited from it, but her legacy of compassion keeps millions safe on the road today.
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