Greatest invention in history?

Pot Noodles, oh god where would I be without there tasty processed goodness?

[edit on 26-1-2005 by Zanzibar]

the microprocessor, and all of its associated splendors. the ability to manipulate electrons is just incredible.

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I was thinking controlled fire, then wheel,
but crisko points out writting which is also huge. I suppose you could add to that numbers/counting/math system.

I like the microprocessor that jprophet420 brings up. mmmm, microprocessors. *slurp*
And as they also said electricity was huge too. I suppose shelter and running water would be on the top of the list too.

My order,

1. spear/ knives
2. Controlled fire [probably the best]
3. cord/rope
4. Shelter/ [clothing?]
5. Animal husbandry/ crops /agriculture
6. Boats
7. Wheel
8. Writting
9. Number/math system
10. Running water
11. Long bow
12. Steam engine
13. Electricity
14. Internal combustion engine
15. personal fave, microprocessors

It sort of looks like the sequence they were invented in, but i think that makes sense, many inventions are built on use of previous inventions. The most basic are the most significant, usually.
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[edit on 26-1-2005 by slank]

Originally posted by Humpy
I would say nuclear weapons. The last 60 years is the longest time in history that France and Britain haven't been to war with each other - because each has nukes. Also, the 20th Century would have almost certainly been different - for starters, there would have been no downside to the USA and USSR going for each other; with Europe stuck in the middle.

So, for Europe anyway, id stake my money on nukes.

That is just retarded in my opinion....Do you honestly beleive the greatest invention in history is a nuke???....WOW, simply amazing.

I'd have to say the greatest invention is language. Being able to communicate is probably the most useful concept ever created.

Life of Brian, Monty Python;
REG: "All right ... all right ... but apart from better sanitation and medicine
and education and irrigation and public health and roads and a freshwater
system and baths and public order ... what HAVE the Romans done for US?"
XERXES: "Brought peace!"

Mass, printing was a revolutionary invention, especially for religious purposes.

Inventions are usually products of inventions, such as electronics, semiconductors and computers.

Anything that controls of electrons and magnets seem automatically neat.

The Internet protocol is a great invention, but it seems it could have been designed better. That and email could be considered a great invention for commercialism, but I'd say, electronic message boards systems is a fine communication invention.

A lot of great answers, a lot of nice answers, a lot of wtf? answers.

fire was tamed, not invented. tools were used, not invented. the wheel was invented, but thats been said. what i think hasnt been said is domestication. domestication allowed for mankind as a race to progress beyond the simple step of sustanence and into supremacy.

anyway, the flaw in this question is and has always been the context. for example, fire, wheel, domestication, those were the base essentials and made everything else possible. electricity, phone, car, plane, computer, these all radically changed what had already been put into existance, and will continue to change things until time immemorial.

every invention has its pros and cons, especially those that consumer our daily lives. So i'm going to say that the best invention ever made is shoes (i.e. footwear), cause i'd hate to have to walk in snow barefooted, or walk on rocks on a hot summer day.

The best invention ever? The Beer Hat, hands down!

Originally posted by lost1
The best invention ever? The Beer Hat, hands down!

The beer hat is the second greatest invention.
The greatest invention ever is........BEER!!!

The bicycle was a great invention as well, cheap transportation that's enviro-friendly, with no emissions!!!

Originally posted by Amorymeltzer


fire was tamed, not invented. tools were used, not invented.

I have to disagree tools were most certainly invented. Perhaps just using a normal rock to bash stuff is not a invention but when man sharpened the edge and made a simple rock a hand axe that was indeed a invention.Pretty much every tool used after a natural rock and stick are inventions.

When people talk about fire as a invention they are talking about inventing methods to create it not the fire itself. So the first method rubbing two sticks or striking two correct rocks together was a invention. Without that invention man would have to wait until a natural fire started everytime they wanted fire which would not be very practical unless you only need fire every couple of decades.

I read somebody's comment in this thread that the written word is the greatest invention. I take that a step further and say language is the greatest invention. Without it, no invention stated here would be possible (save certain discoveries such as fire...)

Beer.

Remote Control.

Lazy Chair.

No seriously, the greatest invention ever......hmmm.....I'd have to say is "the written language"

Originally posted by ShadowXIX
I have to disagree tools were most certainly invented. Perhaps just using a normal rock to bash stuff is not a invention but when man sharpened the edge and made a simple rock a hand axe that was indeed a invention.Pretty much every tool used after a natural rock and stick are inventions.

When people talk about fire as a invention they are talking about inventing methods to create it not the fire itself. So the first method rubbing two sticks or striking two correct rocks together was a invention. Without that invention man would have to wait until a natural fire started everytime they wanted fire which would not be very practical unless you only need fire every couple of decades.

this could devolve into a matter of opinion, but i consider those to be improvements, modifications. fire sure as hell existed before we came along and rubbed some flint. so did tools, monkeys and apes used crude tools. we just improved upon it. apple didnt invent the computer, but when compared to something like ENIAC its a totally different machine. i read invention as something truly novel, never done before on the face of earth.

i mentioned earlier electricity. that was a mistake, we didnt invent it, but we tamed it, just like fire.

God created the best invetion, Life
Best possible invention by us so far has to be the temporal dimension - time
Next to conquer: Spacetime , or has it!?

Originally posted by Amorymeltzer

. so did tools, monkeys and apes used crude tools. we just improved upon it. apple didnt invent the computer, but when compared to something like ENIAC its a totally different machine. i read invention as something truly novel, never done before on the face of earth.

Thats interesting so you dont veiw any tool as a invention just improvements on rock or stick used by apes? I can see the point of just using a rock to bash stuff as not being a invention but the second someone figured out if I break the edge of this rock just right I can a cutting tool. At the time that was indeed a truly novel idea never done before.

Some early human put alot of brainpower into just that and I feel it was indeed a invention.

Or what about a more modern tool the drill is that just a improved rock or stick in your eyes?

I've always said that these are the greatest inventions ever!

I know these are updated versions, but without them, where do you think we would be?

Originally posted by ShadowXIX
Thats interesting so you dont veiw any tool as a invention just improvements on rock or stick used by apes? I can see the point of just using a rock to bash stuff as not being a invention but the second someone figured out if I break the edge of this rock just right I can a cutting tool. At the time that was indeed a truly novel idea never done before.

Some early human put alot of brainpower into just that and I feel it was indeed a invention.

Or what about a more modern tool the drill is that just a improved rock or stick in your eyes?

first things first, aint no drill in my eyes, although ive had a number of close calls, if i do say so myself.

anyway, sharpening a rock is a great idea, but it is in essence an improvement on the rock-hammer idea, or stick-spoon idea. nobodys ever said what ive said before, i didnt invent anything though, i just used the english language and improved upon some ideas in my head (excuse the terrible analogy). especially there, although the difference is enormous, the underlying theory is pretty much the same. the drill, or even a flamethrower, starts to be very detached from that idea, but thats due to generations and generations, eons of building upon those ideas.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

Seriously, electricity and then the internal combustion engine .

this one just hit me, Plumbing.

Could we live in cities if we had no plumbing, it would be horrible, i cant even imagine, dear god that would be hell on earth, feces everywhere.

Originally posted by TKainZero
this one just hit me, Plumbing.

Could we live in cities if we had no plumbing, it would be horrible, i cant even imagine, dear god that would be hell on earth, feces everywhere.

Like in the Dark Ages? I would hate to live in london anytime before say 1930 OKAY Maybe not that earily but probably pre19th centuary london would be horrible :puk: