The world's first air conditioner was designed to dry ink, not cool people
In 1902, Willis Carrier invented the modern air conditioner to solve a humidity problem at a Brooklyn printing plant that was causing paper to warp and ink to smudge.
Willis Carrier created the first electrical air conditioning unit to stabilize the environment of a New York publishing house. High humidity caused paper dimensions to shift, making it impossible to align colors during the printing process. By controlling the moisture in the air through cooling coils, Carrier ensured the ink dried quickly and the paper remained flat.
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