During the last two hundred years, human beings have made great strides in the field of technology. According to the uspto.gov website, between 2000 and 2012 alone, nearly 1.1 million utility patents were granted in the United States and more than 2.2 million worldwide. The number of utility patent applications is growing more and more every year. With so many technologies being invented, there are sure to be some that will have international recognition and influence. While not a new technology, the automobile has had a huge impact on society. The automotive industry is responsible for increasing the efficiency of manufacturing processes, allowing family and friends to travel the world, employing over 700,000 workers in 2011 (selectusa.commerce.gov), and, of course, creating feuds among car enthusiasts. Chevy, Ford and Dodge. Without the invention of the modern automobile, the world would be very different than it is today. It took centuries and more than one brilliant mind to invent the automobile. According to the loc.gov website, the invention of the automobile can be traced back to the 15th century, when Leonardo da Vinci was experimenting with new means of transportation. However, the first modern automobile with a gasoline internal combustion engine can be attributed to Karl Friedrich Benz in late 19th century Germany (loc.gov). Many other inventors in Europe such as Nicolaus Otto, Gottlieb Daimler, Carl Benz and Emile Levassor continued to perfect the modern automobile (history.com). Although the modern automobile was “perfected” in Europe, its growth and adoption were accelerated in the United States. The success and impact of a technology are directly associated with how it is adopted. For example, comparing the middle part of the document, it would be difficult to say that the modern automobile has not had a great effect on our society in more ways than one. The automobile has been shown to have stimulated the economy by creating jobs and being partly responsible for the increase in the female workforce. The automobile revolutionized modern manufacturing by advancing techniques and bringing popularity to the production of technologies intended for the masses rather than the few. The automobile has also sparked global debate on issues related to air pollution and futuristic energy sources. For a technology to have a worldwide impact on culture, history, politics, the environment and the economy, it must have two characteristics; it must be available and desired by the masses and must be adaptable. The modern automobile has been proven to possess both of these characteristics.