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July 15, 2009 10:31 AM Subscribe
Greatest invention of the last 10 years?
I was debating with colleagues about what we all thought was the greatest invention of the last 10 years. Of course, this is subjective. My answer was the iPod since I am a music fiend and the ability to carry a gazillion songs with me everywhere makes me nauseous from happiness. However, I'm curious what other recent inventions have changed lives or caused an impact for people personally. There was this previous question, but I'm interested in recent inventions. I'm not looking for those things only used by NASA or in specific fields but things that have trickled down to the masses and have reallyt changed the way people do things or have had huge cultural impacts (like the iPod).
I was debating with colleagues about what we all thought was the greatest invention of the last 10 years. Of course, this is subjective. My answer was the iPod since I am a music fiend and the ability to carry a gazillion songs with me everywhere makes me nauseous from happiness. However, I'm curious what other recent inventions have changed lives or caused an impact for people personally. There was this previous question, but I'm interested in recent inventions. I'm not looking for those things only used by NASA or in specific fields but things that have trickled down to the masses and have reallyt changed the way people do things or have had huge cultural impacts (like the iPod).
This post was deleted for the following reason: Knowingly-subjective "I'm interested in a debate" stuff is really too far into chatfilter territory for comfort. -- cortex
I'm going to say the iPhone. It's a hand held, touchscreen, wireless internet full-on computer/camera/phone/PDA/iPod/game console/everything. It's amazing. It's like living in the future.
posted by jschu at 10:34 AM on July 15, 2009
posted by jschu at 10:34 AM on July 15, 2009
When I taught composition class, a student told me that the greatest invention in his lifetime was the remote control for tv...easy to scoff at this now, with the passage of time, so that we take this invention for granted, but put it aside for one full week and then you decide.
posted by Postroad at 10:35 AM on July 15, 2009
posted by Postroad at 10:35 AM on July 15, 2009
Oh, I'm adding Tivo to greatest inventions of the decade tied with the iPhone.
I'm sure spray on sunscreen and the remote control existed more than ten years ago.
posted by jschu at 10:37 AM on July 15, 2009 [1 favorite]
I'm sure spray on sunscreen and the remote control existed more than ten years ago.
posted by jschu at 10:37 AM on July 15, 2009 [1 favorite]
The problem is that most revolutionary inventions take longer than ten years before they are revealed as being revolutionary.
I was going to answer "flash memory", but a bit of looking-up shows that it was invented in 1980.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 10:39 AM on July 15, 2009
I was going to answer "flash memory", but a bit of looking-up shows that it was invented in 1980.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 10:39 AM on July 15, 2009
This might be a little foofoo, but I'd say Apple 2.0 (a.ka. The Return of Steve Jobs). There aren't many companies out there that have revolutionized four industries (PC/laptops, personal music, film w/ Pixar, Telecom w/ iPhone) the last 10 years the way Apple 2.0 has. Actually I can't think of any other group that comes close.
posted by chalbe at 10:40 AM on July 15, 2009
posted by chalbe at 10:40 AM on July 15, 2009
iPods are a type of mp3 player, which came out in 1998, so more than 10 years ago.
Also, when you say invention, are you referring to things that are new ideas, or just improvements on existing technology?
I would disagree about the iPhone. I feel that to be considered a "greatest" invention, it should have an impact on a larger percentage of the population. Many people in the developed world have never held an iPhone and don't really care if they ever do.
posted by ishotjr at 10:41 AM on July 15, 2009
Also, when you say invention, are you referring to things that are new ideas, or just improvements on existing technology?
I would disagree about the iPhone. I feel that to be considered a "greatest" invention, it should have an impact on a larger percentage of the population. Many people in the developed world have never held an iPhone and don't really care if they ever do.
posted by ishotjr at 10:41 AM on July 15, 2009
Greatest for whom?
With all respect due, the fact that your iPod combines the features of several gadgets, often already invented a long time ago, doesn't mean much to me.
Affordable cell phones, and their meaning for the emancipation of billions of people in developing countries however...
posted by ijsbrand at 10:42 AM on July 15, 2009 [1 favorite]
With all respect due, the fact that your iPod combines the features of several gadgets, often already invented a long time ago, doesn't mean much to me.
Affordable cell phones, and their meaning for the emancipation of billions of people in developing countries however...
posted by ijsbrand at 10:42 AM on July 15, 2009 [1 favorite]
Not an invention per se as the capacity was around for over a decade before it became user friendly, more of an innovation suddenly taking off, but SMS capability has utterly transformed the way people communicate here as it's become accessible across all networks and extremely low cost. A decade ago, it would have been almost unthinkable for a home not to have a landline - now, many people regard a landline at home as a complete waste of money given all the cheaper, more convenient instant communication options available.
posted by Lolie at 10:42 AM on July 15, 2009
posted by Lolie at 10:42 AM on July 15, 2009
I am not sure this counts as an invention exactly, but I would say Wikipedia.
posted by milarepa at 10:44 AM on July 15, 2009
posted by milarepa at 10:44 AM on July 15, 2009
In the same way the iPod combined tech that had been around for years, I will suggest the Toyota Prius for changing the way people think about cars.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 10:46 AM on July 15, 2009
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 10:46 AM on July 15, 2009
iPhone without a doubt!
posted by blaneyphoto at 10:47 AM on July 15, 2009
posted by blaneyphoto at 10:47 AM on July 15, 2009
Define 'invention'. Iphone is an amalgamation of existing technologies. iPod is something that never existed before, but was not wholly new ( there were other Mp3 players before it).
posted by Gungho at 10:47 AM on July 15, 2009
posted by Gungho at 10:47 AM on July 15, 2009
Response by poster: Greatest for whom?
I repeat: "Of course, this is subjective."
That's why this question spurred such a debate with my colleagues. Of course it is based on what one needs/values.
TiVo/DVR was heavily argued.
posted by archimago at 10:48 AM on July 15, 2009
I repeat: "Of course, this is subjective."
That's why this question spurred such a debate with my colleagues. Of course it is based on what one needs/values.
TiVo/DVR was heavily argued.
posted by archimago at 10:48 AM on July 15, 2009
Greatest for whom?
Greatest for YOU, Earnest McGhee. Not the starving masses of Africa. Jeez...
...And I know it's over 10 years old, but hands down the invention that has had the greatest impact on my life so far has been the internet. I was born in '72, my world was radically different before it, and has continued to change radically as it becomes more and more ingrained in the everyday fabric of my life. I just wish I had had the foresight to invest in it back in the '90s.
posted by Pecinpah at 10:53 AM on July 15, 2009
Greatest for YOU, Earnest McGhee. Not the starving masses of Africa. Jeez...
...And I know it's over 10 years old, but hands down the invention that has had the greatest impact on my life so far has been the internet. I was born in '72, my world was radically different before it, and has continued to change radically as it becomes more and more ingrained in the everyday fabric of my life. I just wish I had had the foresight to invest in it back in the '90s.
posted by Pecinpah at 10:53 AM on July 15, 2009
Although it may take a few years before it's recognized as such, maybe the LifeStraw? Considering that water borne diseases kill almost 2 million people a year.
The iPhone, really?
posted by JaredSeth at 10:54 AM on July 15, 2009
The iPhone, really?
posted by JaredSeth at 10:54 AM on July 15, 2009
The Windows Mobile platform. My first iPAQ transformed my life.
posted by jgirl at 10:54 AM on July 15, 2009
posted by jgirl at 10:54 AM on July 15, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Tavern at 10:34 AM on July 15, 2009 [4 favorites]