Why was Edison's electronic vote recorder a failure?

Answer 1

Edison invented the Electric Vote Recorder to improve the voting process in congress - which was a remarkably inefficient and time-consuming process. Edison invented and received his first patent for this machine and promptly traveled to Washington D.C. to demonstrate the device to a congressional representative.

At the demonstration of Edison's invention, the congressman praised Edison's ingenuity and vision. Nevertheless, the congressman promptly turned down the device saying, "Filibustering and delay in the tabulation of votes are often the only means we have for defeating bad or improper legislation."

Later Edison said: "There and then I made a vow that I would never again invent anything which was not wanted."

Edison's invention was a "failure" only because it was a century ahead of its time. The system used in congress (federal and state) today is based on the same idea as Edison's Electric Vote Recorder.