Post 11: Nikola Tesla vs Thomas Edison

When we're in grade school we learn about American history and how Edison was the one who invested the light bulb with his key + kite combo. We rarely hear the name of Tesla, even though in actuality he was responsible for the majority of electricity's innovations.

We have many laws and regulations regarding patents now, but back then perhaps this was not as closely followed. To enlighten you on a few things Tesla's done, this comic by The Oatmeal does a pretty great job.
http://theoatmeal.com/comics/tesla

If you're too lazy to click that link, (it's pretty long), let me summarize it for you:
Tesla invented AC current, which uses thin wires and high voltage to transfer electricity over long distances.
Tesla also created the backbone for Radio to develop, a nobel prize that was won by Marconi for using Tesla's work.
Tesla pitched the idea of Sonar to the US Navy in WWI, but the idea was ignored and not taken into effect until Watson-Watt was credited with it's discovery 18 years later.
Tesla also discovered X-rays, the first Hydroelectric pump at Niagara Falls, cryogenic engineering, patented the transistor, record radio waves from outer space, discovered the resonance frequency of the earth, build an earthquake machine, remote controls, electric moters, and wireless communication.

In short, he's a boss.

To me it's a pretty sad that his inventions were not accepted at the time he discovered them, but only many years later when someone picked up from where he had left off. It seems like Tesla was simply just too ahead of his time.

PS. Here's a funny YouTube video of a epic rap battle between Tesla and Edison:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ1Mz7kGVf0