Top 5 inventions/innovations/technologies in history

**DSB** · 07-30-2011, 09:14 PM

Writing
Electricity
The Telephone (I would love it if the cell phone had never been invented, though)
Sanitation (including clean drinking water)
Bacon

**ouch** · 07-30-2011, 09:38 PM

Originally Posted by noctilux

- string bikini (female version)

I usually respond to this question with "the transistor", but you've forced me to rethink my position.

**noahpictures** · 07-30-2011, 09:54 PM

Ice Cream
Cinema

**Xman74** · 07-30-2011, 10:20 PM

How about (in no particular order):

- Calculus (Newton made the world accessible and quantifieable)
- The printing press (widespread proliferation of ideas is possible)
- The TV (perhaps the greatest single invention in the universe)
- Irrigation (now farming anywhere is possible)
- Turkey bacon (it's turkey, but it's bacon. Awesome and horrific all at once)

**IronJohn** · 07-31-2011, 02:19 AM

1. The Wheel
2. Antiseptics
3. The Printing Press
4. The Typewriter
5. The Telephone

**scottish steve** · 07-31-2011, 02:38 AM

I'm sure it'll amaze those who don't know as much as it did me, to find out that the wheel never really took of in Tibet. I've even read one account that it was first used in the very early 20th Century....by The English when they went on their first foray in to the forbidden kingdom. It was basically an inappropriate technology for that particular geography and very few people used it. Maybe in Lhasa, but then, they were just show-offs.

**Kenno** · 07-31-2011, 02:40 AM

music/home theater, cinema
lawn mower
anesthetic
swearing (makes it less painful when hit your thumb with a hammer or kick your toe on a chair leg)
hot chips.

**rajagra** · 07-31-2011, 05:50 AM

Umbrellas are my personal favourite, even if not terribly important.

**Hex** · 07-31-2011, 06:12 AM

Microwave popcorn

**kwk285** · 07-31-2011, 06:26 AM

A book.

**AABCDS** · 07-31-2011, 08:36 AM

In no particular order:

Printing press
Electricity
Internet
Television
Internal Combustion Engine

**DavyRay** · 07-31-2011, 11:33 AM

Hot Soapy Water
Clothing
Beer
Mathematics
Cooking

**goatee** · 07-31-2011, 11:55 AM

caller i.d.
compact disc
the flo bee
can opener
the rifled barrel

**life2short1971** · 07-31-2011, 12:29 PM

The bong.....j/k I would have to say the wheel.

**Whilliam** · 05-22-2012, 08:48 PM

Money

**bhorsoft** · 05-22-2012, 08:56 PM

Domesticated Animals
Tools - including the wheel and the razor
Agriculture
Beer
Whiskey

**slugg77** · 05-22-2012, 09:05 PM

What about logic, or self-awarness? Organized theology? Shoes/protective clothing? Shelter/Homes?

This is WAY to deep a topic for me to come across after midnight when I have to work at 7! Doggone it Steve, stop piquing my interests this late!

**life2short1971** · 05-22-2012, 10:05 PM

soap

**rm71** · 05-23-2012, 05:44 AM

Satellite

**global_dev** · 05-23-2012, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by maxman

Interesting. I've seen a whole bunch of these types of lists and usually without fail, #1 on the lists is always the printing press.
I do agree with that, but here's a few that I like (in no particular order):
- The Diaper Genie
- The Microchip

The diaper genie 1 & 2 both are nowhere near my top 5. Or 100. Can't believe I got suckered into the hype. What a waste of money.