Final answer:
Thomas Edison improved the modern design of the incandescent light bulb in 1879, by enhancing the filament and making the whole system practical for widespread use. His improvements and his team's additional electrical system components facilitated the widespread adoption of electric lighting in homes and factories.
Step-by-step explanation:
Improvement of the Incandescent Light Bulb
The modern design of the incandescent light bulb was significantly improved by Thomas Edison in 1879. Despite Joseph Swan being credited in Britain for his work on the lightbulb a year prior, Edison's contributions were momentous. He conducted extensive research on different materials for the filament and ultimately found success with carbonized cotton thread. Edison's approach was not to invent from scratch, but rather to enhance existing technologies to make them practical and commercially viable.
Edison's improvements were aimed at creating a light source that provided a softer light compared to the intense glow of carbon arc lamps, which were unsuitable for indoor lighting. He faced challenges in making electric lighting safer and more affordable than gas lighting. His patented lightbulb paired with the development of electric power systems like those of J.P. Morgan's backed Edison Electric Illuminating Company, and the subsequent spread of AC power systems was transformative, making electric lighting common in homes and factories, and stimulating economic and social changes such as longer factory operation hours.
The drive for innovation led by Edison and his team at Menlo Park also involved creating associated electrical system components, such as dynamos, fuses, meters, and switches, which remain part of modern systems. Additionally, the competitive environment with inventors like Nikola Tesla advanced the functionality and reach of electrical power, helping to light cities and expand urban areas. Edison’s pursuit of better lighting technology not only revolutionized the way we use artificial light but also laid foundations for the electrical industry.