Willis Carrier designed the air conditioner in 1902 for humidity control, not to escape the summer heat.
In New York's hot summer, high humidity caused paper to shrink and warp, causing print jobs to be ruined.
Hence, Carrier was hired to design an atmospheric control system for a publisher to protect valuable paper by cooling and dehumidifying air.
Willis Carrier's industrial technique was quickly transformed into theatres and movie palaces, offering a cool escape from the summer heat.
Air conditioning didn't become a global phenomenon until the postwar boom, with breakthroughs in technology and affordability.
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