What would you consider...

Airhog · 03-25-2005, 06:18 PM

the most important technological invention of the 20th century?

I know alot of people would probably say the computer. Personally I would have to say the most important invention of the 20th century has to be Silicon. Transistors probably come in a close second.

Easy Mac · 03-25-2005, 06:23 PM

i'll assume the car does not count?

thealmighty · 03-25-2005, 06:26 PM

That's easy. Air conditioning.

Ryan S · 03-25-2005, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Easy Mac

i'll assume the car does not count?

I think the car would be a 19th century invention.

The jet engine has to be high on the list.

kcchief19 · 03-25-2005, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airhog

the most important technological invention of the 20th century?

I know alot of people would probably say the computer. Personally I would have to say the most important invention of the 20th century has to be Silicon. Transistors probably come in a close second.

Silicon was really more of a discovery than an invention. It was always around, it just took us a while to figure out what to do with it.

You can't go wrong with the transistor. The airplane and the radio/TV were also nice. saying computer to me seems to be a bit of putting the cart before the horse because you wouldn't have much of a computer without transistors.

BrianD · 03-25-2005, 06:51 PM

I think I'd have to go with the espresso machine.

judicial clerk · 03-25-2005, 06:59 PM

atomic bomb

Tigercat · 03-25-2005, 07:11 PM

AC and Refridgeration is a biggie, but that was invented in the 19th century(But thanks to refridgeration, I can build advanced farms!). I too would have to go with Transistors. Radio is also a biggie, not just for itself but for what it lead to, but it may have been invented in the late 19th century, not sure. It was somewhere around the turn of the century.

Buccaneer · 03-25-2005, 07:34 PM

I don't think any invention in the Modern Age (since WW2) changed life as much as some of the earlier ones like air conditioning, refrigeration and my submission - modern indoor plumbing. Computers and all of their corollaries only made life faster, more effecient and expandable. But you asked for technological inventions and those I and others listed are probably more mechanical - depends on definitions I guess.

sabotai · 03-25-2005, 07:41 PM

Karim · 03-25-2005, 07:44 PM

indoor plumbing/water treatment/sanitation

Raiders Army · 03-25-2005, 08:14 PM

I'd go with silicon, if you meant breast implants.

JeeberD · 03-28-2005, 07:39 AM

Fast food restaurants

Castlerock · 03-28-2005, 07:45 AM

Plastic

Critch · 03-28-2005, 07:58 AM

TiVo. And it's not even close.

Cringer · 03-28-2005, 08:05 AM

the cure for cold's and flu's.

oh yeah, that hasn't happened yet, no wonder I feel like shit.....

I will go with my second choice then, the satellite. It gives me my T.V., my radio, and much more.

tanglewood · 03-28-2005, 08:40 AM

The transistor in a cake walk.

Warhammer · 03-28-2005, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by judicial clerk

atomic bomb

I'll go with this one. There was a chart floating around that shows the number of deaths globally per year from war. The line was rising exponentially until 1945 and then drops to almost 0. Imagine what the world would be like now if we had fought two more world wars (without the nukes of course!).

BigJohn&TheLions · 03-28-2005, 08:49 AM

Toilet Paper.

BigJohn&TheLions · 03-28-2005, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thealmighty

That's easy. Air conditioning.

Pussy. Sweat it out like a real man.

Lathum · 03-28-2005, 09:21 AM

cellphone.........just kidding

JPhillips · 03-28-2005, 09:37 AM

I'm in for the airplane. It changed human interaction by making trans-ocean trips common. That changed disease patterns by making any virus a potential world-wide threat.

War was drastically changed by airpower, especially civilian bombing. The use of ships was completely rethought after the introduction of carriers.

As Herve said, "The plane. The plane."

QuikSand · 03-28-2005, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tanglewood

The transistor in a cake walk.

yes yes

condors · 03-28-2005, 10:42 AM

peanut butter cups

BrianD · 03-28-2005, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by condors

peanut butter cups

Ooh, I want to change my vote to this.

Cap Ologist · 03-28-2005, 01:45 PM

text sims

weinstein7 · 03-28-2005, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cap Ologist

text sims

I hear strat-o-matic cricket was HUGE in England back in the 19th century. There was this one bowler, Dean something...Just a monster.

Desnudo · 03-28-2005, 01:53 PM

The thing in a can of Guiness.

judicial clerk · 03-28-2005, 02:04 PM

Without transistors, we would still be able to get by with vacuum tubes.

VPI97 · 03-28-2005, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Desnudo

The thing in a can of Guiness.

BRILLIANT!

st.cronin · 03-28-2005, 03:50 PM

Surely it has to be the so-called 'green revolution' which transformed agriculture? Although truthfully, I don't know much about it - but it's my understanding that the availability of food, in all nations and across all demographics, has improved dramatically.

Penicillin should be a consideration as well, no?

mgadfly · 03-28-2005, 03:57 PM

The internet. Thank you Al Gore.

Lathum · 03-28-2005, 04:34 PM

The ability to record sound

tanglewood · 03-28-2005, 05:55 PM

That is a 19th century invention you've got there Lathum.

judicial clerk · 03-28-2005, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Penicillin should be a consideration as well, no?

This is very important, but I might classify it as a scientific discovery instead of a technological invention. I would compare the discovery of penicillin more to Einstein coming up with his theories of relativity.

how about the rocket? It is very important to different fields (flight, space travel, combat), and when you combine it with my earlier offering, the atomic bomb, well now you are really on to something.

Franklinnoble · 03-28-2005, 07:03 PM

Sanitation, since with it, we can build hospitals, and grow our cities to sizes over 12...

vyshka · 03-28-2005, 07:08 PM

The real doll

Karlifornia · 03-28-2005, 07:19 PM

I'm going to have to say God....wait...he was invented way before the 20th century....

tucker342 · 03-28-2005, 07:20 PM

indoor plumbing

timmynausea · 03-28-2005, 07:21 PM

How about the best in the 21st century? I have to say McGriddles are the early favorite. I know it's early, but I honestly don't see how anyone will top those little guys.

Cringer · 03-28-2005, 07:23 PM

here are my other nominations, for personal reasons.

Power steering, air ride seats, and air conditioning. I am not sure I could have been a trucker 30-40 years ago.

Karlifornia · 03-28-2005, 07:25 PM

I totally forgot about the pocket pussy.

tanglewood · 03-28-2005, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Franklinnoble

Sanitation, since with it, we can build hospitals, and grow our cities to sizes over 12...

If you don't get sanitation before the 20th century, you've already lost.

rlfreeze · 03-29-2005, 12:44 AM

Nuclear power

03-25-2005, 06:26 PM	#3
thealmighty Pro Starter Join Date: May 2003 Location: heaven	That's easy. Air conditioning. __________________ Check out The Unofficial FOFC Movie Guide Here

03-25-2005, 07:41 PM	#10
sabotai General Manager Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: The Satellite of Love	Pez

03-25-2005, 07:44 PM	#11
Karim College Starter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Calgary	indoor plumbing/water treatment/sanitation Last edited by Karim : 03-25-2005 at 07:45 PM.

03-28-2005, 07:39 AM	#13
JeeberD General Manager Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The Town of Flower Mound	Fast food restaurants __________________ UTEP Miners!!! I solemnly swear to never cheer for TO

03-28-2005, 08:05 AM	#16
Cringer Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Edinburg,TX	the cure for cold's and flu's. oh yeah, that hasn't happened yet, no wonder I feel like shit..... I will go with my second choice then, the satellite. It gives me my T.V., my radio, and much more. __________________ You Stole Fizzy Lifting drinks! You bumped into the ceiling which now has to be washed and steralized, so you get NOTHING! You lose!

03-25-2005, 06:23 PM	#2
Easy Mac Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Here	i'll assume the car does not count?

03-25-2005, 06:51 PM	#6
BrianD Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Appleton, WI	I think I'd have to go with the espresso machine.

03-25-2005, 06:59 PM	#7
judicial clerk College Benchwarmer Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Portland, OR	atomic bomb

03-25-2005, 07:11 PM	#8
Tigercat College Starter Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Federal Way, WA	AC and Refridgeration is a biggie, but that was invented in the 19th century(But thanks to refridgeration, I can build advanced farms!). I too would have to go with Transistors. Radio is also a biggie, not just for itself but for what it lead to, but it may have been invented in the late 19th century, not sure. It was somewhere around the turn of the century.

03-25-2005, 07:34 PM	#9
Buccaneer Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Colorado	I don't think any invention in the Modern Age (since WW2) changed life as much as some of the earlier ones like air conditioning, refrigeration and my submission - modern indoor plumbing. Computers and all of their corollaries only made life faster, more effecient and expandable. But you asked for technological inventions and those I and others listed are probably more mechanical - depends on definitions I guess.

03-25-2005, 08:14 PM	#12
Raiders Army Coordinator Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: The Black Hole	I'd go with silicon, if you meant breast implants.

03-28-2005, 07:45 AM	#14
Castlerock High School Varsity Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Boston, Ma	Plastic

03-28-2005, 07:58 AM	#15
Critch lolzcat Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Herndon, VA	TiVo. And it's not even close.

03-28-2005, 08:40 AM	#17
tanglewood College Benchwarmer Join Date: Oct 2004	The transistor in a cake walk.

03-28-2005, 08:49 AM	#19
BigJohn&TheLions College Benchwarmer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: New York	Toilet Paper. __________________ In the immortal words of a great alcoholic, "Can't we all just get along?"

03-28-2005, 09:21 AM	#21
Lathum Favored Bitch #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: homeless in NJ	cellphone.........just kidding

03-28-2005, 09:37 AM	#22
JPhillips Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Newburgh, NY	I'm in for the airplane. It changed human interaction by making trans-ocean trips common. That changed disease patterns by making any virus a potential world-wide threat. War was drastically changed by airpower, especially civilian bombing. The use of ships was completely rethought after the introduction of carriers. As Herve said, "The plane. The plane."

03-28-2005, 10:42 AM	#24
condors College Starter Join Date: Oct 2000	peanut butter cups

03-28-2005, 01:45 PM	#26
Cap Ologist College Prospect Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Flower Mound, TX	text sims

03-28-2005, 01:53 PM	#28
Desnudo Coordinator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Here and There	The thing in a can of Guiness.

03-28-2005, 02:04 PM	#29
judicial clerk College Benchwarmer Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Portland, OR	Without transistors, we would still be able to get by with vacuum tubes.

03-28-2005, 03:50 PM	#31
st.cronin General Manager Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: New Mexico	Surely it has to be the so-called 'green revolution' which transformed agriculture? Although truthfully, I don't know much about it - but it's my understanding that the availability of food, in all nations and across all demographics, has improved dramatically. Penicillin should be a consideration as well, no?

03-28-2005, 03:57 PM	#32
mgadfly High School Varsity Join Date: Dec 2003	The internet. Thank you Al Gore.

03-28-2005, 04:34 PM	#33
Lathum Favored Bitch #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: homeless in NJ	The ability to record sound

03-28-2005, 05:55 PM	#34
tanglewood College Benchwarmer Join Date: Oct 2004	That is a 19th century invention you've got there Lathum.

03-28-2005, 07:03 PM	#36
Franklinnoble Banned Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Placerville, CA	Sanitation, since with it, we can build hospitals, and grow our cities to sizes over 12...

03-28-2005, 07:08 PM	#37
vyshka Mascot Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Tempe, AZ	The real doll

03-28-2005, 07:19 PM	#38
Karlifornia Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: San Jose, CA	I'm going to have to say God....wait...he was invented way before the 20th century.... __________________ Look into the mind of a crazy man (NSFW) http://www.whitepowerupdate.wordpress.com

03-28-2005, 07:20 PM	#39
tucker342 Pro Starter Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Iowa City, IA	indoor plumbing

03-28-2005, 07:21 PM	#40
timmynausea College Starter Join Date: Dec 2002	How about the best in the 21st century? I have to say McGriddles are the early favorite. I know it's early, but I honestly don't see how anyone will top those little guys.

03-28-2005, 07:23 PM	#41
Cringer Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Edinburg,TX	here are my other nominations, for personal reasons. Power steering, air ride seats, and air conditioning. I am not sure I could have been a trucker 30-40 years ago. __________________ You Stole Fizzy Lifting drinks! You bumped into the ceiling which now has to be washed and steralized, so you get NOTHING! You lose!

03-28-2005, 07:25 PM	#42
Karlifornia Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: San Jose, CA	I totally forgot about the pocket pussy. __________________ Look into the mind of a crazy man (NSFW) http://www.whitepowerupdate.wordpress.com

03-29-2005, 12:44 AM	#44
rlfreeze n00b Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Grenoble, France	Nuclear power

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