Although he didn't invent the steam engine proper, Watt was directly responsible for improvements that made it a viable option for mass use in manufacturing and transportation. He separated the condenser from the rest of the engine to correct the repeated cooling and re-heating of the engine that had previously lead to wasted energy. He devised a steam indicator and a centrifugal governor, both of which became essential as regulating controls. Watt's improvements made the steam engine more efficient and cost effective, leading to revolution in the way people worked and traveled.
Watt devised a precursor to the office copier using thin paper, ink and a pressure press. He applied for a patent in 1780 and soon had a booming copying business. Watt worked diligently at perfecting the rudimentary system before passing the business on to his sons several years later. Replication was clearly an interest for Watt: he also invented a machine for copying sculptures and worked on many devices for accurately measuring distance, perspective and angles.
An avid chemist, Watt was instrumental in the development of commercial bleaching liquid. He experimented with mixing salt, manganese and sulfuric acid to produce chlorine. This, when added to an alkali solution, exhibited bleaching properties upon being applied to textiles. Although others perfected and patented the technique, Watt's work was key in demonstrating the viability of bulk laundering. The development of bleach for commercial use stimulated the cotton and textile industries, which became, in turn, new pillars of the Industrial Revolution.
The extent of the scientific community's respect for Watt is evident in the singular honor bestowed on him in 1889. A unit of power in the International System of Units, or SI, was dubbed the "watt" in his honor. A more contemporary gesture of respect was made by the Bank of England in 2011 when it released a new 50 pound bank note bearing Watt's image alongside that of his manufacturing partner Matthew Boulton. Watt's early inventions and a lifetime spent imagining and contributing to a more mechanized future is thus not likely to be forgotten any time soon.
