Did you have too much to drink? Are you coming home from a party which maybe you should have stayed over? In the rear view mirror you see the flashing red and blue lights. "Oh man" you mumble to yourself as the officer slowly approaches your window. After explaining to you how you have a strong odor of alcohol he asks you to step out and breathe into a small meter. After blowing a 0.9 you find yourself cuffed and sitting in the cramped back seat of his patrol car. Who do you have to thank for this crafty little meter which has just sealed your fate?
In 1938 professor Rolla Harger, with the help of Robert Borkenstein, created the very first "breathalyzer." This device was known as the Drunk-o-meter. In 1953 Robert Borkenstein went on his own and created a smaller, more portable and easier to use version. This new version allowed police officers to use the device with very little training. The original device work by blowing into a balloon, the air from the balloon was released into a chemical solution, the solution would change color. The darker the color the more alcohol in a persons breathe. A modern breathalyzer works by measuring the amount of alcohol vapors in your lungs, brought there after being filtered through your liver and entering your blood stream.
Work cited:
Lloyd Duhaime, Barrister, Solicitor, Attorney and Lawyer Legal Dictionary page, Breathalyzer. 16 JUne 2009. http://www.duhaime.org/LegalDictionary/B/Breathalyzer.aspx
Martin, Douglas. "Robert F. Berkenstein, 89, Inventor of the breathalyzer" New York Times 17 August 2002. 16 June 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/17/us/robert-f-borkenstein-89-inventor-of-the-breathalyzer.html
Innovations page, Indianna University, Perdue University. 16 June 2009 http://www.iupui.edu/spirit/innovation
For some reason, this automatically caught my attention. I have never come across to seeing what the new and latest "breathalyzer" looks like and i finally get to see one, but definitly not the new version. :). Pretty interesting topic and invention to write about. I wonder how the cops were able to hold this thing around when they came across to drunk drivers. I think we owe much thanks to Proffesor Rolla Harger, because without her invention of the Drunk-o-meter, how would the cops know how much these drunkies actually had to drink? Eventhough people shouldn't even be drinking and driving, especially teens nowadays!
ReplyDeleteThis caught my attention immediately also. I love how you began the blog like it was a story. Those older breathalyzers look like giant old computer systems! This is a very useful tool for prosecuting drunk drivers, which creates a huge impact on society!
ReplyDeleteThat original machine was huge. Today's breathalyzers can fit in an officer's pocket. It is without a doubt that the breathalyzer has saved lives by taking people under the influence of alcohol off of the roads. There are still too many people driving drunk today. They drink a few beers and think they are fine until they see the red and blue lights behind them. Today some cars are even being fitted with breathalyzers. The car won't start unless the driver breathes into it and is not intoxicated. This step has been taken primarily for people who have alcohol problems.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many people have fallen prey to the scientific and technological wonder that is the breathalyzer. Each night drunk drivers are caught by police all across America and put in jail because of this one invention. However, the breathalyzer would not have become the sucess it is today without the devotion of scientists like Harger and Borkenstein who developed it into a compact and efficient tool. Just looking at the original design, it obviously wasn't very portable and suspects probably had to be brought to the police station to test them. Great article and great use of technology!
ReplyDeleteA true lifesaver. "Sealed your fate" or saved your life? I cannot imagine the number of lives saved as well as property damaged avoided by the use of the breathalyzer. The sad fact is people are foolish enough to drive while drunk and a device like this is need. Used not only as a way to "catch" a drunk driver but as tool stop people before they get into a car and drive. The development of the Drunk-o-meter from a large device to a portable device truly increased the usefulness of the breathalyzer.
ReplyDeleteFortunately, I've never been on the receiving end of a breathalyzer, and, knock on wood, hope to never be. But I know people who have been and most of them have had suspended licenses or even house arrest. Sometimes I just want to punch science in the face and tell it to leave me alone. :P
ReplyDeleteIn all honesty though, I have to agree with most above. It is a clever device used with good intentions and not for cops to just round up crazy drunks and throw them in jail. It's a constant reminder of the dangers of not driving drunk. I know too many people killed because they drank too much and drove. This device, though it doesn't stop drunk driving, helps prevent it. Society, I'm sure, appreciates the hard work of those scientists. Science put to the test on a regular basis. Thank goodness.
-Brittney
We hear and read about drivers involved in an accident who are later charged with drunken driving, and usually a news report on the accident will say what the driver's blood alcohol level was and what the legal limit for blood alcohol is. A driver might be found to have a level of 0.15, and the legal limit is 0.08. The breathalyzer is important for pu¬blic safety that drunken drivers are taken off the roads. Because of this invention the roads are a little safer, although many people still don’t understand the law that no one should drive under the influence of alcohol. Many offic¬ers in the field rely on breath alcohol testing devices to determine the blood alcohol concentration drunken-driving suspects. Every morning I read the local paper; I see long lists of DUI and underage’s. I hope that I would never be on that list.
ReplyDeleteThis was an interesting topic to write about. I'm sure it caught everyone's attention. I myself have not seen the new breathalyzer and hopefully never will. It was a good invention though, it enables people who have drank to much to be arrested. No one wants to be arrested, but I think it is better than allowing that person to continue driving.
ReplyDeleteMany people can be injured if that person who was drinking got into an auto accident. I did like how you started out the post as a story. It really captured my attention and I kept reading instead of skimming over this particular post. Keep up the good work.
Excellent post! You caught my attention immediately. Unfortunately, drunk driving and underage drinking are a sad reality within our society. The invention of the breathalyzer has sure impacted both. It has allowed authorities to prove and discipline those who chose to disobey the law. I never knew about the older models with the balloon. It is amazing how far technology has advanced. I keep hearing in the news that they are looking to install breathalyzers in the cars of people who have previous convictions associated with drinking. From what I hear, these people will have to breathe into the device before they are able to start their car… BRILLIANT! This is a step in the right direction when it comes to eliminating drunk drivers. It is so unfortunate the number of innocent lives that are taken due to such a stupid decision.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great invention. Personally I like the sound of the "drunk-o-meter" rather than today's "breathalyzer." (It sounds much more fun...) Anyhow, I must admit my curiosity of what Mr. Harger had going through his mind while thinking up this lasting invention. Did alcohol leave a lasting impression on him personally, or was it just a blinking light bulb above his head? Well, just think Chris, if you are ever put in the situation addressed above, you can always reply with: "Well hello there officer! That is one nifty 'Drunk-o-meter' you've got there. Did you know that Rolla Harger invented the first breathalyzer machine way back in the 1930's..." Although you'll come off as very knowledgeable about the subject, I can't tell you just how far it'll get you. Very nice job with the topic though - it held my intrest along with everyone else's.
ReplyDeleteThis is really a interesting topic to do your blog on because of the breathalyzers some many people have been saved. Thanks to this cops don't have to let drunks get away with driven under the influence. The don't have to guess how drunk the person thanks to Rolla Harger many people still have their lives. Now only if people would just stop driven while they are drinking it would save even more peoples lives.
ReplyDeleteJust like everyone else, this caught my attention right away. The breathalyzer is such an interesting invention. It can save a live and ruin a life at the same moment. A DUI on your record could alter so many opportunities for you in the future, but being taken out from behind the wheel when your drunk has not only saved your life, but possibly the lives of others as well. It doesnt pay to drink and drive.
ReplyDeletei have never been tested or never drove while under the influence of alcohol so hopefully i will never have to experience the new "breathelizer" recently, i heard that the cops tell you to breath on the strip behind the licence card and if it changes colors then you might be drunk (depending on which color). a lot of people are probably not happy with this invention but as long as it protects our environment i would want it to stick around as long as it can.
ReplyDelete