20th Century inventions

Cope · Post by **Cope** » 19 Feb 2008 01:53

List three of the most important inventions or improvements made during the 20th Century. In 25 words or less why you believe such is true.

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » 19 Feb 2008 02:30

Tough question but here goes. I'm going to break the word limits

1. Vaccinations.

Although invented well before the 20th century, a great deal of science in the 20th century led to massive improvements in technology. It's estimated that smallpox killed 200 million to 500 million people between 1900 and 1967 and 0 people after 1967.

2. The internet.

Although really became useful after the 20th century, the internet is responsible for an amazing change in our society. Suddenly almost all information is easily accessible, people can communicate around the world with ease and people are exposed to many different kinds of people with many different views.

3. Birth Control

Again something that wasn't really "invented" in the 20th century, but certainly took off and became mainstream then. Massively changed how we view sex, and indeed sexism. A major step forward for women's rights and sexuality and also a crucially important development as we become more aware of human nature and also of the limits to sustainability of the planet.

Blue_turnip · Post by **Blue_turnip** » 19 Feb 2008 06:34

1. Sliced bread: Because I'm too noob/lazy to cut even pieces that don't fall apart.

2. Electric Computers: They have increased efficiency in many areas of life. They allowed for the internet.

3. Audio and visual recording devices: So we can lol at people who fall over on youtube.

Bringerofpie · Post by **Bringerofpie** » 19 Feb 2008 07:46

Automobiles

Advanced Telecommunications

Electric Guitars

BainbridgeShred · Post by **BainbridgeShred** » 19 Feb 2008 12:23

1. Dan Fearey

2. Dan Orseolo Fearey

3. BainbridgeShred

"I'm from the era of Ronald Reagan
And from my dress code and my style tiger
Ya you know what I'm slangin'"

Colin · Post by **Colin** » 19 Feb 2008 15:14

Jeremy took my one and two, but the number three spot belongs to Reebok Pumps, hand's down. I was so cool.

Post by **Zac Miley** » 22 Feb 2008 18:37

1. Internet. Controls a lot of peoples lives. Blah.

2. Automobiles. Barely 20th century, right?

3. Dan Fearey.

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » 22 Feb 2008 23:06

The obvious one that I missed is penicillin. I'm not sure which it replaces in my top 3, but it definitely should be in there, probably as the number 1 invention/discovery.

Outsider · Post by **Outsider** » 23 Feb 2008 18:46

My number 1 and number 2 picks were also not, strictly speaking, products of the 20th century, but, like so many other technologies, were significantly improved in the last hundred years so that they took on new utility and importance.

1. Rockets

and

2. Wireless Communications

Wireless Communications have a very obvious use. Think of how much more information can be quickly disseminated to people who need it by radio and television broadcasts, as well as many other kinds of wireless communications too.

Rockets, of course, have enabled us to put communication and weather satelites into earth orbit. And weather and communication satelites have to potential to do alot of good, save many lives from natural disasters, etc. The weather satelites, of course, use radar to probe the atmosphere, and radar is essentially just a modification of wireless communication.

Its the synergy of the two technologies that I love. Like, the wireless communication makes rockets worthwhile, since without it there wouldn't be nearly as much use in putting anything into orbit or otherwise off the planet, so about all they'd be good for would be warfare and fireworks. And rockets allow us to exploit a much higher level of wireless communications.

My number three best 20th century technology really doesn't need much explaining, I think. Its name is practically synonymous with utility:

3. Duct Tape

The topic starter said I should explain my pick though, so I suppose I should say something about it. So...

Q: How is Duct Tape like "The Force" ?

A: It has a light side and a dark side, and its what binds the galaxy together.

dyalander · Post by **dyalander** » 24 Feb 2008 18:32

I'd have Nuclear Weapons in my list. Perhaps not an "improvement" but I'd say their invention was pretty "important" in the scheme of things.

For the other two

Penicillin's a good one.

Then the obvious computer/internet one. Not sure which "one" invention is the best or "most imprtant" within the computing revolution: internet, microchip, etc. ?

Switch Kicker · Post by **Switch Kicker** » 25 Feb 2008 15:39

I'll put in my 2 cents here.

1. Internet of course. You know all the reasons, I need not explain them, as they've been explained above.

2. Not exactly an invention, but NASA. NASA is the backbone to having so many things today that we take for granted. Satillite TV (Don't much care for this one though.), international communications, and probably the most important (as of right now in my opinion), weather watching. NASA is also the solution to saving our species in the distant future, I believe.

3. Recyclable, clean energy. Solor and wind power. They need no explanation.