Greatest Inventions

[10fingers]

The following is a list of what I think are the greatest inventions of the 20th century;
1.Semiconductors, making electronics and the PC cheap and powerful.Most consumer electronics are now so inexpensive that if something malfunctions you just throw it away and buy a new one.
2.Satellite Communications. A person can now talk to almost anyone in the world reliably and at low cost.
3.MRI. Magnetic resonance imaging. Gives the physician a look at the inner workings of someone before they start cutting into them.
4.Nuclear power. Lots of cheap electricity and the ability to blow up the world.
4.Internet. Loads of free information and porn. It wouldn't surprise me if half of internet traffic is porn.
5.Viagra, I don't use it but a lot of people seem to like it. Probably goes hand in hand with number three.
6.Duct Tape. Absolutely essential, even before the fear of terrorism it was a handy thing to have around. A person should have several rolls of this in different locations in case of emergency. You never know when a raghead might pop up out of the bushes and start spraying bio/chem weapons. With duct tape you are safe.
Any other suggestions for greatest inventions?

<small>[ March 08, 2003, 01:54 AM: Message edited by: 10fingers ]</small>

[rikkitikkitavi]

1) antibiotics

/rickard

[Al Koholic]

The 20th century eh?
Antibiotics...good one! Although, while it keeps people alive to communicat longer, it does not speed communication.

1) internet

[VX]

The jet engine has to be up there with the best of them, it has made traveling half way around the world an everyday/ cheap and safe event.

The electron microscope has probably helped us understand more about biology than anything else. We wouldn't even know the ultra structure of simple human cells without it. As such we would be unable to understand protein synthesis, respiration etc.

How about NMR, Mass spectroscopy, Infra red spectroscopy, X ray diffraction and all other structure determining technology. Without these modern chemistry would be very different to what it is now.

[HMnO4]

Today's Atomic Structure was from Bohr in 1922, right?

[Crow]

Anyone forgetting about space travel?

[Mr Cool]

The best invention is the wheel, 'nuf said.

But, from the 20^th Century, it has to be power stations. A lot of other great inventions would have been much harder without electricity at the flick of a switch.

[VX]

HMnO4, you are right. In 1922 Neils Bohr was awarded the nobel prize for discovering the structure of the atom.

However I was talking about machines/ processes which help find the structure of molecules. Huge structures such as proteins including enzymes and endless other molecules.

[Nihilist]

I would say that the two best inventions are
1) internet.
2) Genetic enginerring of bacteria, because it allows us to mass produce chemicals like insulin instead of having to take it from cows, which takes forever and is very expensive.

[HMnO4]

P.S. Al Gore did not 'invent' the internet... :D

[Rat Bastard]

Best invention eh? how about this?
<a href="http://www.alexchiu.com/" target="_blank">Immortality Rings!</a> :p

[vulture]

Electrolysis!

No Mg, Al, Na, K,.....etc without electrolysis!

[shooter3]

Liquid fuel rockets, GPS, nuclear submarines, Hubble telescope, C-4, aircraft, aircraft carriers, inertial navigation(sensitive accelerometers), and C-14 dating.

PS. Indoors toilets and hot running water.

<small>[ March 08, 2003, 10:41 PM: Message edited by: shooter3 ]</small>

[Tuatara]

1/ The Espresso machine
2/ The dishwasher
3/ The Far Side

On the basis that these 3 things have had the biggest positive impact on my life <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

<small>[ March 08, 2003, 08:10 PM: Message edited by: Tuatara ]</small>

[cutefix]

For me is the rapid development of chemistry of explosives , invention of chemical , bio weapons and nuclear weapons.
With those latter inventions the world was never the same again and awe from these materials have kept the world in anxiety no matter if the country possess or not this form of weaponry.
:p

[xyz]

Fire is another invention that technology would have been very sluggish without.

Tape, Glue, BP, NG, Electricity, Plastics, The internet, P2P file sharing, Data Compression, and Photography to name a few.

[Anthony]

IMO, the greatest benefits to the common man have been domestic electricity (as mentioned) and affordable, practical personal transport, i.e. the average car.

[carbonated]

Not of the 20th century, but guns play a huge role in history.

[Spudkilla]

Compact disks, video cameras, teflon, and mechanical pencils, to name a few.

[static_firefly]

The microwave!!!

Now that is a cool invention

[Guerilla]

The discovery of Penicillium and DNA chains
The fast travelling vehicles
The modern communication devices in general (internet, mobilephones..)
Nuclear energy as a source of electricity
The Credit card

[A-BOMB]

M1 Grand or SKS/AK-47 plus the HUMVEE

[Jhonbus]

Antibiotics
Nanotechnology (just coming into its own)
AK-47s and other such truly revolutionary weapons technology
Lightweight-yet-strong metals (Al, Ti) (well, the refining and use of these)
Processors
Lasers
Ultra-precise machining technology (CAM, Laser machining)
GPS
Space flight

[zaibatsu]

Organophosphates
Browning's Delayed Blowback mechanism
And Anthony's suggestion of electricity in the home.

With these three things you can control nature, humanity and live in relative comfort.

[zylion]

I asked my neighbour , she answered "my vibrator" that's more like it, keep on playing baby. :D :D :D horny bitch

[Arthis]

It's difficult to say because all these stuffs are pretty cool but their are part of the chain of discoveries, and without one another one might not have been discovered...

I would personnally say relativity, as I hope we'll have quantic computers soon.

And the vibrator may not be recent: just electric ones, as you don't have to turn the crank to make them work and you can caress the clito or the breast while hanging it.

[J]

The first three I can think of off hand that have all changed my life in a very positive way are:

1. The snowboard
2. The contact lens
3. The internet

[rooster]

I'd have to say the finding of "different waves", such as microwaves, IR, UV, and the like. Made like much easier, think of your rc det system, or your microwave oven, or night goggles! A lot of nifty shit here!

[inFinie]

I think the greatest, most important inventions of mankind are writing, language, science may be speaking, electricity to name a few.

[jelly]

Genetic fingerprint. ;)

[stickfigure]

1.) The Pill! Condoms Suck!!!
2.) The Airplane
3.) The Computer
4.) The Automobile
5.) The Internet
6.) The Television - I know it's full of minding rotting crap but, back in the day it was an amazing thing and made this century visible.
7.) The Radio - The first mass communication system.
8.) Radar
9.) Rockets
10.) Lasers

That's a short list

[Kid Orgo]

Stickfigure beat me to it.


1) Birth Control pills.

Trojan UltraRibbed helps, too.

[AcidSleet]

Bikinis

[yt2095]

1, the Transistor
2, Beer in cans
3, poly esters
4, Take Away food
5, Dental anesthetics

and as Acidsleet said, Bikinis :)

[The_Sapient_Ape]

I'm surprised it hasn't been mentioned more, but Duct Tape has to be a very importent part of 20th century discoveries! :D
Also, this site! It contains so much knowledge. Im shure its taught many people things they never would of known otherwise.

G-strings and thongs should be included too:D

[knowledgehungry]

Also, this site! It contains so much knowledge. Im shure its taught many people things they never would of known otherwise.

Hmm maybe the greatest invention is ass kissing, but i think dictionarys are pretty high up there too "shure" is spelled sure:p . Yes i know no one likes a smart ass. I like the copy and paste function, homework is so easy now!

[The_Sapient_Ape]

Woops, i'm SURE it wont happen again. Ass kissing is a great invention its gotten us all somthing we have wanted.:D

[Anthony]

Might want to sort out your sig too...

[nous]

INDEPENDENT knowledge is the best invention

free energy?
http://jnaudin.free.fr/meg/megv21.htm
http://jnaudin.free.fr/meg/meg.htm

http://www.msoft.no/MEG/
http://my.execpc.com/~mbauer/meg.html

plus
http://www.prahlad.org/pub/bearden/scalar_wars.htm#patent

plus the joe cell orgone energy motor.
my company im starting is to sell these cheaper than the current market price(plus all alt powwer and materials)

to save the planet and fuck up the econ$$$$$$$my

any one here into alternative energy, and the like

[GibboNet]

Like has been said, I doubt this life would have been liveable without duct tape.

Bikinis ? Thongs ? NO.... They cover what we actually want. ;)

I suppose modern medicine for long life, the internet for entertainment, and a great information source, anything and everything that makes my life easier. I especially love bamix's. Instant milkshakes etc.

I think there's too many things that have improved this world. I'm not going to bother with any more, I think they've all been mentioned. I will say, P2P, divx, real media, mp3, and free webspace.

[Anthony]

Aww man, "extracting energy from the active vacuum" again :rolleyes:

I'm interested in alternative energy, but perpetual motion and "free" energy scams piss me off!

[gliper]

bitch smacking

[Psymage]

greatest invention : a chair beacause they sit so comfortable:D

[IDTB]

Originally posted by gliper
bitch smacking
Perhaps the greatest invention/discovery is how well life is co-existing positively with the oppsite sex in a complete blissful state of mind.

I think some of us can be alittle more positive about the ladies, eh fellas?

[nbk2000]

If there were no women, we'd all be fags, so be grateful for their existence. :p

My personal choice for greatest inventions are cryogenics and nano-technology, for they make my immortality and eventual conquest of the universe possible. ;)

[IDTB]

Oh, wow. Haven't found another cryogenics supporter in awhile! Even though I believe cryogenics would be one of the greatest inventions(when successful) I believe it will also be one of the greatest downfalls of the human civilization if successful before colonization of planets occurs.