Who's inventions were more influential: Tesla or Edison?

Question

Who's inventions were more influential: Tesla or Edison?

Answer 1

I'd like to answer Westinghouse, but, since that is not an option...Edison!

Answer 2

No Contest!  Tesla is the man, or one might say, the inventor.

Tesla was working on wireless electrical power and energy transfer as early as the 1890's.  He had derived the basic concept of the AC induction motor in 1882.  He layed the basic foundation for radio communications; for remote control vehicles, for AC power system that we still use today; for vacuum tubes and fluorescence bulbs; the carbon-button lamp (an ancestor of the modern atom-smasher), and mechanical oscillators, etc.  He was cultured, educated, and a far higher class of person than Edison could ever dream of being.  Tesla was a true inventor and scientist; Edison, he was ... well, a business man and tinkerer who just happen to get lucky at times.

The difference between Tesla and Edison, and there were a lot of differences, was that, Tesla would take a problem and work out a mathematical solution. He knew why the solution worked. On the other hand, Edison, when presented with a problem, would try any and everything until he found something that seem to work, even though he couldn't tell you exactly "why" it worked. It just worked.

Tesla was the equivalent of a 100, maybe a 1000, Edisons, in my opinion.

Edison was of such character that it almost makes people ashame to call him an American inventor.

Read: TESLA: Man Out Of Time

by Margaret Cheney

ISBN: 13-978-0-7432-1536-7

  

Answer 3

Tesla's inventions probably had more theoretical influence but could only be made practical by other inventors leveraging on Tesla's work.

Edison's were undoubtedly more influential in terms of actual products brought to market.

Answer 4

tesla without him we would not have AC we would still be using DC

Answer 5

Perhaps one should ask what did Edison invent that was influential.

Answer 6

Edison

Answer 7

I can always light a candle, or kerosene lamp for lighting, but I absolutely rely on AC induction motors to:

- preserve my food,

- keep me warm (and cool)

- provide me with water (city utility pump motors)

Granted some *movies* have influenced me to a small extent, but we're talking basic survival in a modern urban environment.  AC induction motors are absolutely essential.

Tesla wins -- 'hands down'.

.