who inventewd the little things

I have been wondering who invented the little things that make up today's technology. For Example:
Who invented the wire? How they decide the material to use? When they decide warping the wire to solve the issues bare wires cause?
With the phone who came up with system of the dial and buttons to dial numbers instead of having to go through an operator.

I probably could keep going it just makes you think who invented the things that inventors use to event the thing we use today.