How did George Westinghouse contribute to industrialization? Thank you.

George Westinghouse was a prolific inventor and industrialist who made significant contributions to the field of engineering and the process of industrialization during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is best known for his development of the air brake system for railroads and his promotion of alternating current (AC) electricity, which played a vital role in the industrialization of modern society.

1. Air Brakes: Before Westinghouse's invention of the air brake, train brakes were manually applied by brakemen in each car, making the process slow, inefficient, and hazardous. In 1869, Westinghouse patented the air brake, which allowed for trains to be stopped with fail-safe accuracy through a system of controlled air pressure. This invention greatly improved the safety and efficiency of rail travel, allowing for longer, heavier, and faster trains, and ultimately, the expansion of the railroad industry—a key component of industrialization.

2. Alternating Current (AC) Electricity System: Westinghouse was a key proponent of AC power, which could be transmitted over long distances more efficiently than direct current (DC). Despite strong competition from Thomas Edison, who advocated for DC, Westinghouse's support and further development of AC technology, in collaboration with Nikola Tesla and others, eventually led to the widespread adoption of AC power systems. His work led to the construction of the first long-range AC power network with transformers and high-voltage transmission lines. AC electricity became the standard for power distribution around the world, enabling the growth of numerous industries and the modern electrical grid.