Greatest invention in history?

[IronWing]

The Holy Bible

Only where it doesn't contradict rock and roll.

 

[flexy]

* Language
Doesn't count, it's not an invention per se - most animals have some form of "language", even bees, cats, dogs, whatever. Our language (eg. written language) is just more complex.

* Transistor
Doesn't count since it "merely" enabled miniaturization, function is (essentially) the same as w/ cathode tubes...so nothing "ground breaking" aside from that a computer (thanks to microchips) now is the size of a watch rather than a house

I am still thinking printing press because it allowed knowledge and science to spread and become mainstream.

Maybe, if that counts, harnessing fire for light, warmth, cooking etc..

 

[Rubycon]

Air conditioning!

 

[Sho'Nuff]

Control of fire is probably the most important (considering it is still a fundamental invention upon which most modern humans depend), but if I had to pick a more modern invention I would go with penicillin. The internet is also at least as important as the printing press.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

My vote for greatest invention is writing. The printing press is notable but writing is the driving force behind it. As far as language, I don't see it as an invention. Nearly all animals have forms of communication, vocal or otherwise. The communication/language of human animals is merely more complex.

 

[MongGrel]

Air conditioning!

I'd put it in the top 3 maybe

 

[sportage]

What is the first thing you do with a beer?
Sit down and enjoy it.
On a air plane?
Find your seat. Pretty hard to fly standing up. Not to mention the stress for the pilot(s).

Posting in this forum?
I'd wager 100% are sitting down in a CHAIR.

No other invention big or small, simple or complex, would be possible without first sitting in a CHAIR and drafting out that invention.

Church is a fairy popular place to read the Bible, while sitting down, naturally.

I still vote for THE CHAIR.
Keeping it simple, yet most useful.
I never stood as a passenger on a plane, or stood driving a car.
All of which have a chair.

 

[Herkejmhu]

I would say the Bugeleisen... :-D

 

[BUTCH1]

The Fax machine. Think about how much $$ and time it has saved and that's why it wins.

 

[Oyeve]

The combustible engine.

 

[flexy]

woooops....forgot some...

telescope
and more even.... microscope

Imagine in the middle ages etc. people had no clue that organisms like germs, bacterias or virii even exist, the cause of many diseases. So I think microscope should be on top of the list. Telescope too.

 

[zinfamous]

The Fax machine. Think about how much $$ and time it has saved and that's why it wins.

Do people still use those?

The cool thing about the printing press is that it remains more or less unchanged in design--just far more complex and efficient, obviously (the modern type of industrial press at a newspaper pretty much works the same way as Gutenburg's design).

 

[Droidriven]

I would definitely have to say language was the influential invention because it is from this that the ability to create all other inventions were born because it allowed for the sharing and combining of knowledge. Without it, most of the inventions we have would not exist because otherwise inventions would only be ideas with no knowledge to apply to the idea, even the greatest inventors had to have learned the knowledge that others have contributed.

 

[kage69]

Tough question, there's more than a few possible answers if you are looking for inventions with total impact on humanity in mind (not specifying good or bad):



language
religion
gunpowder
the control of electricity
dynamite
antibiotics/immunizations
The Pill
the transistor


Probably more worthy contenders I'm forgetting too...

 

[kage69]

The Graston Technique probably deserves an honorable mention, IMHO.

 

[skimple]

Fear of God.

Fear of God has done more to shape individual behavior, evolution of society, progression of technology, development of art, etc than any other thing that man has ever invented.

 

[zinfamous]

The Graston Technique probably deserves an honorable mention, IMHO.

Is that the fancy name for "pulling out?"

If so, it's a solid contender.

 

[TheGardener]

Paper (formulas, books & shit).........toilet paper.

Without it, you'd be wiping your ass with your hand.
.
.
.
In other parts of the world, people handshake with their non-wiping, non-smelly hand. That's pretty fucked up.

Plumbing is the greatest invention of all time. Without a doubt. Cholera and other diseases have been vastly reduced (where plumbing is the norm). The Roman Empire fell, not because their society went to crap (no pun intended), but because the invading forces cut off the water being delivered to Rome by the miles long Aquaducts. If you don't agree with plumbing, just for a minute think about how your life would be affected, if you had to daily lug buckets of water from the nearest water source, probably polluted, for your all your household needs.

Indoor plumbing is a wonderful convenience. No more going out in minus zero degree weather to do your business. And who wants to volunteer for cleaning out the outhouse bucket? Think of the hot showers or baths that you would miss out on.

When I was a kid in Boston, I use to visit the Museum of Science. They had a giant map/chart on display of the city, the surrounding communities and the harbor. There were lights that pinpointed a half dozen locations, where the untreated waste water was dumped into the harbor. Every year, I'd visit the museum and see the display of the unresolved dumping of untreated waste water. It took decades before a Federal judge ordered a solution and the building of that waste treatment project was completed.

My heart goes out to the families of Flint, MI. This should not have happened in this day and age.

Oh, and about the toilet paper vote. First of all, this is why people of the 3rd world only shake hands with their right hands. But there are some alternative solutions. I remember when I hiked in the Appalachian Trail, with no toilet paper. Those plants with big leaves were what I reached for. Fortunately for me, none turned out to be poisonous.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

It's still pussy. Brought us into the video rental age, cable television premium (ahem, adult) channels, the Interwebs, and more. Who could do without pºrn?

 

[ImpulsE69]

The Holy Bible

I read this and the voice in my head was Dio changing the words to Holy Diver.

Am I going to Hell?

Oh and the egg beater, or the slap chop...could go either way.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

The basement. Without basements, most of atot wouldn't have anywhere to live.