On Saturday 20 May 2023, Durbanville Heritage Society offered a really interesting event when Prof Mike Bruton presented a slide show and talk on ‘Great African and South African inventions’.
The occasion was well attended and Prof Burton kept the audience bound by his research on the inventions from our country and the continent.
The talk started with the placing of the topic in context with an explanation of the difference between discoveries – with indicates exploration, to invention – which indicates a new product, service or technique, not just an idea. Prof Bruton started with the earliest times, focussing on indigenous knowledge and onward to modern times as he enlightened the listeners on inventions developed by people of Africa and South Africa. Many of these are currently in use and further developed throughout the world.
To mention a few, the dolos, radar transmitter, broadband radio, Computicket, Pratley putty, the Bentley belt, Creepy Krawly, CAT scanner, LODOX x-ray, robotic nurses, Oil of Olay and many more as expounded in the several books Prof Bruton had published on the topic.
This was a truly inspirational and informative afternoon.
The next event of the Heritage Society is planned for 17 June 2023.
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