Friday, July 31, 2015

2015-07-31 - It sticks! (2)


  • What did people think of Mestral's idea?
  • What did NASA think of his idea?
  • What products use Velcro today?
  • QOD: Mestral thought his idea might be better than what?
Many people thought de Mestral's idea was silly and laughed at him. But de Mestral thought his idea might be a better fastener than the zipper. He patented his idea in 1955 and named it "Velcor." He than started a company to make Velcor. However, it took awhile for people to see how great the fastener was.

In the 1960s, NASA began to use a lot of Velcor. They used it as a fastener on space suits. The space agency's use of the fastener led to its use in many other area of life. Soon shoe companies began to use it on children's shoes. Companies that made ski clothes also saw its usefulness. Today Velcro is widely used on everything from children's toys to blood pressure cuff.

Velcro has had some unexpected uses, too. During the first ever artificial heart surgery, Velcro was used to hold the human heart together!

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: NASA Spinoffs 教學主題: 太空科技的副產品
NASA的科技也應用在日常生活中, 這種現象叫做 spinoff

Language Lab
fasten v. 
/ˈfæsn̩/ (t不發音)
to attach (something) or join (two things or two parts of something) especially by using a pin, nail, etc.
- Please fasten your seat belt, and put your seat in the upright position before we land.
- The fasten seat belt sign will go off when the plane has reached its designated altitude.

patent v.
/ˈpætn̩t/
to get a patent for (something);
to obtain a special document giving you the right to make or sell a new invention or product
- The scientist patented his invention and made a huge profit.
patent n.
an official document that gives a person or company the right to be the only one that makes or sells a product for a certain period of time
- The company applied for a patent for its new product.

agency n.
an organization or department, especially within a government, that does a specific job:
- Josh used to work for the Central Intelligence Agency.
a business that provides a particular service for people or organizations
- I booked my flight through a travel agency.
agent n.
a person or company that represents another person or company, especially in business:
- a real estate agent

artificial adj.
/ˌɑɚtəˈfɪʃl̟/
not happening or existing naturally : created or caused by people
- The artificial arm moves just like a real arm.
- There's an artificial lake at the resort.
not natural or real : made, produced, or done to seem like something natural
- I can't stand the taste of artificial sweetener.


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