Best invention of the 20th century!!!

Theo1

I noticed that there is a thread for most pointless invention, how about one for the Best?

I will start by saying the transistor, i would like to hear some other views; it's your opinion so you can't be wrong!!!!
I will do a poll at the end so even if its the same as someone else's feel free to comment it again or agree!!! THE MORE THE BETTER

NobodySpecial

The roller blind - because otherwise it would curtains for everybody !

Evo

LOL

The electric refrigerator for the home.

NobodySpecial

There is a good arguement that this and the (clothes) washing machine is what really liberated women.
It's fine for Emily Pankhurst to get the vote - she had a bunch of servants to do the day-day work - it's the fridge and washer become common that allowed women to have jobs outside the home.

waht

The TCP/IP protocol was the best invention. It revolutionized the way computers communicate with each other, and so, it naturally led to the rapid growth of the internet.

Grep

Good question. So many amazing inventions.

Right now, I'll go with contemporary birth control. I shudder to think of a world without them. I think it's pretty hard to overrate the importance of reproductive freedom for women.

Theo1

Nice, this is an interesting one, is this basically the invention of the ‘wireless’ internet? Before this did they have to use wires for the internet, or was there just no internet? does it also help with communications in mobile phones?

NobodySpecial

No it's the system of routing messages so you don't have to directly dial a specific computer to talk to PF - you just send a message to the nearest computer which sends it to another and so on until it arrives at PF. It's this packet-switching / routing that is the clever part of the internet. TCPIP is the particular standard that is used.

Not TCPIP specifically but routed packet switched networks yes

Theo1

if the infomation is going to every computer woudnt you be able to just re-configure your own computer to steal infomation?...i know the security would be MASSIVE but is it possible
...sory for going off track, continue posting ideas, thx!!

Evo

The information doesn't go to every computer, it travels through the routers within a provider's network.

NobodySpecial

It only goes through the computers in the shortest path from your machine to the PF server.
In practice those machines are all likely to be owned by internet service providers / cable + telecoms companies so are totally untrustworthy

That's why when you go to your bank or a amazon checkout you see a little padlock and it says https - that means it's encrypted

JaredJames

Perhaps not the best, but the mobile phone has to be highly ranked.

I'd say the ability to be contacted 24/7 pretty much anywhere has revolutionised business and personal lives. Especially now with the smart phones.

Evo

When you do a traceroute, it shows you the path the data takes. Maybe that helps you envision it.

DaveC426913

You guys seem to be thinking only of the second half (or even quarter) of the 20th century.

What about:
- television
- powered flight

Evo

I see you noticed the mistake.

Proton Soup

heat engines. both external combustion (steam), then its internal combustion cousins (gas,diesel). these things changed our lives, starting industrial revolutions and conquering continents with railways. you could even drive a heat pump with one before electricity. and most of the electrons delivering this message to you were put in motion by heat engines (steam turbine) driven by coal in an electric powerplant.

derp. me no can read. will think of something else.

NobodySpecial

All C18-C19 inventions though