Courtney Blanch
August 30, 2015
Informational Visual Aid Speech
Can you see me?
Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the history, creation, and current popularity of sunglasses.
Central Idea: Sunglasses are more than what the eye meets, from their long history, to the actual creation, and on to their increasing popularity.

Introduction: I. Mostly anyone with a pair of eyes has worn a pair of sunglasses in their lifetime. But have you ever thought about how and where these nifty lenses were first invented? A. Majority of the population, nearly 85%, own at least one pair of sunglasses. B. I personally enjoy wearing sunglasses and in this speech I will explain the reasons why humans love sunglasses. II. Sunglasses have an extensive history dating back to ancient times in Roman History, and China. III. It wasn’t until about the mid 1700’s that sunglasses were thought to be used for UV protection and even correct specific eye impairments. IV. Sunglasses are popular throughout society and can range from only dollars to upwards of $5,000.
Body:
I. The earliest historical reference to sunglasses dates back to ancient China and Rome. A. Roman Emperor Nero was thought to have watched gladiator competitions through polished light emerald green gems, but these worked more like mirrors B. Between the twelfth century but before 1430, sunglasses were worn by Judges in the Courts of China 1. They were not used as protection from the sun but to keep their eyes from giving away the outcome of their decisions. 2. Made from smoky quarts which gave no corrective powers but help in protecting eyes from glare. C. Around 1752, a man names James Ayscough, began experimenting with blue and green tinted lenses for spectacles in the mid-18th century. 1. Theses weren’t “sunglasses’ per say but Ayscough believed that tinted lenses could correct vision.
(Transition: Now that you know some basic history, let’s look at the creation of the sunglasses we know and love today) II. The development of glasses continued through the years after James Ayscough. A. Problems with keeping eyeglasses on the face led to experiments 1. Glass frames had been made from leather, bones and metal propped on the nose and the side’s pieces from ribbon looping around the ears. a. Solid sidepieces where finally invented by Edward Scarlett in 1730 2. Benjamin Franklin’s invention of bifocals followed in 1780. B. By the 20th century, Sunglasses where now used to protect the eyes from the sun 1. In 1929, Same Foster began the first mass-production of sunglasses a. Sold at Woolworth stores in Atlantic City b. Began the trend for sunglasses for fashion 2. In the 1930’s, Army Air corps requested sunglasses to help high-altitude glare for piolets c. Ray-ban created the Aviator using polarization d. Aviators weren’t available to the public until 1937
(Transition: Now that I’ve explained exactly how our sunglasses were created, let’s talk about the popularity of them within our culture.)
III. By the 1970’s Hollywood’s stars and fashion designers made a huge impact on the sunglass market.
A. Clothing designers and stars put their names on glasses and sunglasses and everyone had to have them.
1. Foster Grant were the first sunglass brand to be advertised in the 1960’s
2. Ray-ban Aviators were worn by popular movie stars in the 1970’s and 1980’s and they are still popular today
B. More than a decade later, sunglasses are now the one of the most popular accessories all over the world 1. Sunglasses had a long history of not even being sunglasses and were used for so many different reasons 2. Now they have become that one popular accessory that everyone has to have
Conclusion:
IV. As you can see, sunglasses have had their fair share of shine in our world, from ancient Rome into your purse or car.
II. Although sunglasses weren’t used in ancient times for sun protection, they still helped pave the way for the sunglasses we have today.
III. Sunglasses were truly invented until James Ayscough, and his designs were perfected by Scarlett, and Franklin in the late 1700’s.
IV. Once the mass production of sunglasses was made possible, nearly everyone, poor or rich, could own their own pair of sunglasses.