The Extension cord is a simple invention that has greatly helped people over the past century. Such a basic concept, the extension cord is valuable because there are so many instances where you’re going to use something that requires being plugged in, and you go to plug it in and it either doesn’t nearly reach, or is just a little bit too short. Both of those instances are very tedious. S.W. Atherton also found this instance to be very tedious, but he was the one that thought, “hey, why doesn’t anyone do something about this?” Being an inventor and electrical engineer, S.W. Atherton invented the extension cord in 1904.
Function / User:
The primary function of an extension cord is electrical, and it is to extend a cord in order to power a device that does not reach an outlet. The user plugs whatever it is they are trying to plug in, in to port of the extension cord, and then they plug the cord into the wall outlet, and the device being used receives power through the cords. The extension cord is a universally adopted tool that can be used by any one that has access to electricity, no matter ages, genders, professions, and so on.
Materials / Production:
Extension cords are mass produced items made from circuits, for electricity transport, wires, a plug, and an outlet port. For safety, all of the wires are wrapped in an SOOW cord, which stands for: a service cord (S) that is oil resistant, inside and outside (OO), and weather and water resistant (W). Extension cords are generally mass produced and sold at hardware stores, but can also be made at home, only if you know what you are doing because it can be dangerous.
Affordance:
The extension cord involves the user to be able to push a cord in to a socket. The appearance of the extension cord is pretty explanatory, considering one end has a plug and the other has a socket. Someone who has never seen one of these before would easily be able to determine what it is and could be used for. Typically wall plugs are indoors, so it is implied that this tool be used inside, where an electrical outlet is. Since they are wrapped in a protective coating, it signals that it can be taken outside as well.
Sources:
http://chrismeyer.org/projects/extension-cord/
http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Extension-Cord-With-Built-in-Switch-Safe-Qu/
http://www.prioritywire.com/SOOW.aspx
https://www.quora.com/Who-invented-the-extension-cord
Image Source:
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81DT3WFI4ZL._SX355_.jpg
