1. Darkness After Sunset: Imagine a world without the light bulb. Cities would be enveloped in darkness after sunset, making outdoor activities, travel, and even basic tasks like reading challenging.
2. Communication by Letter: No telephones, no radios, no televisions. News would travel slowly, and keeping in touch with loved ones would require letters and telegrams.
3. Limited Entertainment: No movies, no recorded music, no sound recordings. Entertainment would be limited to live performances and the occasional traveling circus.
4. Limited Mobility: Without the phonograph, the development of the motion picture industry would likely be delayed significantly. The "talking pictures" revolution would be postponed, impacting the development of entertainment and storytelling.
5. A Slower Pace of Life: The lack of electricity would mean no electric motors, no refrigerators, no washing machines. Life would be much more physically demanding, requiring more time for basic chores.
6. Limited Medical Advancements: Edison's work laid the foundation for X-rays and other medical imaging technologies. Without this, diagnosing and treating illnesses would be far more difficult.
7. Different Industries: Entire industries, like the electrical grid and consumer electronics, wouldn't exist. We might see a reliance on other energy sources like water power or coal for a longer period.
8. A Different Society: The lack of widespread communication and information dissemination might have slowed social progress. We might see a different political landscape and a more isolated, localized way of life.
Overall: Life without Edison's inventions would be significantly different, slower, and potentially more challenging. His contributions revolutionized communication, entertainment, medicine, and everyday life, shaping the modern world we know.