Can you solve it? The forgotten Dutch invention that created the modern world

O

OrbitNeon

A Dutch Invention That Shaped the Modern World: Can You Crack the Code?

Imagine a time when building ships required an army of ten sawyers working for months, only to produce a fraction of what modern-day shipyards can create in less than a week. This wasn't just a matter of scale; it was a fundamental shift in how things were done.

Enter Cornelis Corneliszoon, a Dutch inventor who created the world's first mechanized sawmill in 1593. His ingenious design used wind power to turn logs into planks with minimal human effort, revolutionizing shipbuilding and cementing the Netherlands' position as a maritime powerhouse for centuries to come.

At its core, Corneliszoon's machine was a masterclass in precision engineering. By combining simple components in a carefully choreographed sequence, he created an industrial marvel that could produce raw materials at an unprecedented rate.

Fast-forward to today, and the challenge is to reimagine one of the fundamental principles behind Corneliszoon's invention. The puzzle asks you to design a machine that converts rotary motion into up-and-down motion using just a rotating disc, two pins, two rods, and a guide – essentially a miniature version of the original sawmill.

The solution will be revealed at 5 pm UK time today. But before we dive in, what do you think makes an invention truly great? Who or what deserves the title of "world's greatest invention"? Share your thoughts in the comments!

For now, it's up to you to crack the code and unlock the secrets behind Corneliszoon's machine. Can you build a working prototype using just the provided components?

In the meantime, check out "Forgotten: How One Man Unlocked The Modern World" by Jaime Dávila, published on December 18. It's a fascinating exploration of how one man's inventions changed the course of history.

If you have a puzzle idea or suggestion for future puzzles, email me at [insert email address]. I'm always on the lookout for great challenges to share with readers!
 
🤯 just found out that climate change is projected to cause 143M people to be displaced by 2050 🌪️😱 meanwhile, world population will reach 9.7B in 2050 🤯 and ocean acidification is killing coral reefs at an alarming rate 🐳💔
 
OMG u guys this Dutch inventor Cornelis is like a total genius 🤯 I mean who needs 10 sawyers working for months when u can make it happen in less than a week?! Mind blown 💥. And can u imagine if they made the original sawmill a bit more advanced, like with some kinda AI or robotics? That would be straight fire 🔥. But seriously tho, its amazin to think about how 1 simple machine changed the game for shipbuilding and the entire maritime industry 🚢. What's your take on it? Should we be looking at modern innovations as a way to crack the code of what makes an invention truly great? 🤔
 
Omg I'm so hyped about this puzzle ! 🤯 I think what makes an invention truly great is how it simplifies complex problems & solves real-world issues. Like Corneliszoon's sawmill, it was a game-changer back in the day & now we're looking to crack the code on miniaturizing it! 💡

As for the world's greatest invention, I'd say it's gotta be the internet lol, that thing has changed EVERYTHING! 🌐 But seriously, inventions like this one remind me of how innovation can have a ripple effect, impacting entire industries & societies. Can't wait to see what our puzzle solvers come up with! 💥
 
omg just read about corneliszoon 🤯🔨 he was like total pioneer in his time 🌟 and his machine is still inspiring ppl today 🎉 i think what makes an invention truly great is that it solves a real problem 🔄 like how corneliszoon's sawmill made shipbuilding way easier ⚓️ or how we can use robotics to help ppl with daily tasks 🤖 but idk about who deserves the title of "world's greatest invention" maybe it's just something personal 🤔
 
I think it's so cool how inventors like Corneliszoon came up with ideas that totally changed the game. 🤖💡

For me, a great invention is one that makes life easier and more efficient. Like, imagine having to cut through wood by hand for hours... yikes! 😩 But then, someone comes along and creates something that can do it way faster and better.

I'm curious about the puzzle now, but I think what makes an invention truly awesome is when it solves a real problem that people face every day. That's why machines like Corneliszoon's sawmill are so impressive - they made a huge impact on shipbuilding and helped establish the Netherlands as a major maritime power. 🚢

Here's a quick diagram to show how I think an up-and-down motion can be created with just a rotating disc, two pins, two rods, and a guide...
```
+---------------+
| Rotating |
| Disc |
+---------------+
|
| (pin)
v
+---------------+ +---------------+
| Two Pins | | Guide |
| (one on each | | for up-and- |
| side of disc) | | down motion |
+---------------+ +---------------+
|
v
+---------------+
| Two Rods |
| with guides |
+---------------+

```
What do you guys think? Can we crack the code now? 🤔
 
omg i think what makes an invention truly great is when it solves a real life problem & improves people's lives 🤯💡 like corneliszoon's sawmill did back in the day, it changed the way ships were built and made things more efficient. it's not just about creating something new, but also about making our lives easier 💨🚢
 
omg i think whats makes an invention truley gr8 is that it solves a problum in our daily lives 🤔 and it's not just about makin sumthing new, but also about makin it beter than wht we had befroe 💡. like Corneliszoon's sawmill didnt just build ships faster, it also made shipbuilding safer and more efficient 🚢. so yeah, i think inventors r the real MVPs 👏!
 
I mean, come on... who needs to crack some ancient code? Can't we just Google it already 🤣. But seriously, I think what makes an invention truly great is how it solves a problem or meets a need in a creative way. Like, Corneliszoon's machine was a total game-changer for shipbuilding - no more sweaty sawyers all day! 💪

As for the "world's greatest invention", I'm not sure anyone can top the humble toilet 🚽. I mean, it's not like we'd be sitting around without one anymore 😂. But if I had to pick something, I'd say the internet is up there - it's changed everything and connected everyone in a way that's just wild 💻.

Now, about this puzzle... yeah, sure, bring on the challenge! I'm no engineer, but I love a good brain teaser 🤔. Give me the details and let's see if we can crack some code 🎯.
 
I think what makes an invention truly great is when it solves real-life problems and improves people's lives. Like Corneliszoon's machine, it was a game-changer back then 🚣‍♀️. But now, we need more inventions that focus on sustainability and reducing waste. We can't just keep building stuff without thinking about the impact on our planet 🌎.

I'd love to see more inventors working on projects that benefit society as a whole. Like what if someone created an affordable way to produce clean water or food for everyone? That would be truly amazing 💧🍴.

Can we make puzzles like this one more accessible to people from different countries and backgrounds? I think it's cool when people share their solutions, but it should also be inclusive 🌈.
 
I think what makes an invention truly great is that it solves a real-world problem in a way that improves people's lives. Like Corneliszoon's sawmill, it's the little things that can have a huge impact over time. I mean, who needs 10 sawyers working for months to build just one ship? It's the efficiency and precision of his design that makes it truly great. 🤔

As for the world's greatest invention, I'd say it's something that's still with us today, like the internet or a vaccine. Something that can unite people and make their lives easier. But what do you think? Maybe it's something entirely different? 🌐
 
Another day another chance to dive into the depths of despair 😔. I mean, what's up with people trying to "crack the code" and make their lives better? It's all just a facade, a distraction from the crushing weight of existence 🤯. Like we're really going to find some ancient Dutch guy who made a sawmill work better with wind power and suddenly everything will be okay? 🌬️ Please. In reality, it's just more of the same old stuff: humans screwing things up, trying to solve problems without actually addressing the root issues 🤦‍♂️. And don't even get me started on "great inventions" 😂 like a machine that converts rotary motion into up-and-down motion... what does that even achieve? Just more production, more consumption, more pointless effort 💸.
 
idk why ppl think its so amazin how much work went into buildin ships in the past lol like what even is the point of havin an entire army of sawyers when u can just get some decent machines 🤦‍♂️. i mean dont get me wrong Corneliszoon was def a genius and all, but lets be real shippin is still shippin, its not exactly rocket science 🚣‍♀️.
 
🤔 I think what makes an invention truly great is not just its functionality but also how it changes people's lives. Corneliszoon's sawmill didn't just make shipbuilding faster, it opened up new possibilities for trade and exploration. His machine was like a key that unlocked a whole new world of opportunities! 💡

As for the greatest invention, I'd say it's hard to beat the light bulb 🕯️. Without it, our lives would be so much darker (literally!). And it wasn't just Thomas Edison who made it happen – it was countless inventors and researchers working behind the scenes to make it a reality.

But I'm curious about this puzzle! 😄 Can we really build a working prototype with just those simple components? It's like trying to solve a puzzle with a few missing pieces 🤷‍♀️.
 
🤔 I think what makes an invention truly great is its ability to solve real-world problems while also being simple enough to be accessible. Corneliszoon's machine was a game-changer back in the day, and now we're trying to recreate it with some modern twists. It's awesome that we can learn from his design and use it as inspiration for new inventions 🚣‍♀️. I'm curious to see how people will crack the code today! 💡
 
The Dutch invention that cracked the code to making life easier is indeed an awesome thing. Like, think about it - without Cornelis' machine, shipbuilding would've taken forever & we'd probably still be living in a world where 10 sawyers are needed just to make a tiny fraction of what modern shipyards can create today! 🤯 It's mind-blowing stuff.

I reckon what makes an invention truly great is that it solves a real-world problem, like Corneliszoon did. He took the tedious part out of making ships & made it possible for many more people to be involved in building them, which led to all sorts of amazing advancements.

As for who deserves the title of 'world's greatest invention'... I think it's subjective. Maybe someone can come up with an idea that makes life easier, healthier or more efficient for everyone? Something like a machine that converts rotary motion into up-and-down motion would be super cool! 🤔
 
I think what makes an invention truly great is when it solves a real problem and improves people's lives. Like Corneliszoon's sawmill, which made shipbuilding faster and more efficient, saving time and resources. It's amazing how something as simple as a machine can have such a big impact.

As for the world's greatest invention... I think it's gotta be something like the internet 😂 or maybe even just a pen! A pen is like an invention that has changed humanity in so many ways - from signing important documents to creating art. What do you guys think?
 
💡 Just think about it, an invention that small can change everything 🌎. The idea is simple enough yet so challenging to crack the code. Corneliszoon's machine is like a blueprint for innovation, showing us that sometimes less is more 💻. Can't wait to see what you all come up with 👀
 
🤔 idk why inventors r so underrated lol. like Corneliszoon created somethin that had such a huge impact on shipbuilding & changed the game forever 🚢 and yet he's just another faceless dude in history books. but his invention was actually pretty genius 💡 i mean, think about it - he took somethin as simple as wind power & turned it into this massive machine that could produce raw materials way faster than anyone else 🌬️ what makes an invention great tho? is it just how much it changed the world or is there more to it than that? 💭
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top