Britons vote for the iPhone as most important invention ahead of flushing loo and space travel

Telegraph ^ | May 19, 2010 | Staff

[BRITinUSA]

I would say the ‘printing press’. The ability to mass-produce books allowed the spread of knowledge.

[catman67]

I would add firearms and dynamite. Firearms really leveled the playing field in terms of self defense and dynamite was the source for major construction in the late 19th century. I would also include the steam locomotive, which was principally responsible for populating much of the US.

[a fool in paradise]

An iPhone doesn’t do much good without an internet or satellite.

[a fool in paradise]

Guiness pub draft cans.

[Red_Devil 232]

Oh Yeah! Nitrogen widgets!

[attiladhun2]

Sounds like entitlement mentality. The accoutrments of modern life are by no means assured. Social and political unrest can disrupt things like running water and electricity, even permenantly. Look at Sierra Leone. As a Bristish colony and in the early days of its independence, the nation was called a model 3rd world nation. The nation's advance to a modern, industrial state seemed certain. However, although the situation there has much improved, it is still a basket case. No society is immune to this, and globalism has likely made global social chaos more probable, rather than less.

The old Star Trek vision of a united world of plenty with everyone jetting around the universe is simply not going to happen. Too much of the world is dysfunctional and corrupt and too many of this its inhabitants have an entitlement mentality. I don't see this changing at all.

[Swordmaker]

Brits chose the iPhone as the ninth most important invention of all time... ahead of the flush toilet and Space Travel and the internal combustion engine... PING!!

iPhone Ping!

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.

[Swordmaker]

I would add firearms and dynamite. Firearms really leveled the playing field in terms of self defense and dynamite was the source for major construction in the late 19th century. I would also include the steam locomotive, which was principally responsible for populating much of the US.

I think that dynamites opposite invention of concrete should have been there, too... by the Roman's, I believe.

[Swordmaker]

Make that 8th ... can’t read, this morning. Senior moment, I guess.

[dfwgator]

1. The Plow

It made civilization possible.

[stripes1776]

The top of my list: writing and the alphabet.

[SunkenCiv]

The toothbrush wasn’t even on their top 100. ;’)

[Mind-numbed Robot]

I wonder how far down the list tooth paste is...

Not far behind the tooth brush.