Daily Education and Technology News for Schools 04/25/2012
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Gideon Sundback: Today's Google Doodle honors zipper genius - latimes.com
From the LA Times today. Lots of people "unzipped Google" today in honor of his birthday, however, he did NOT invent the zipper..
"Gideon Sundback -- the man who did not invent the zipper but did perfect it -- is the recipient today of a giant, interactive Google Doodle zipper.
It's a doodle to add zip to your day, honoring the birthday of the man who helped introduce the fastening device into everyday clothing. Look around -- there's a good chance you'll see Sundback's handiwork in nearly every item of clothing you own, save shirts and blouses.
Even sneakers sport zippers these days.
Sundback was born 132 years ago today in Sweden. He lived briefly in Germany before making his way to the U.S. and becoming the epitome of the American success story. He didn't actually invent the zipper. Such a device -- which uses metal teeth to pull two sides of material together -- had been dreamed up years before but was clumsy and easily came undone, undermining its usefulness.