Simply the best

Shoes for pigeons.

They're a nineteenth century invention, numpty. :P

Transistor.

Just proves why my orginal question is flawed, I think: I was going to say the micro processor but we wouldn't have those without the prior invention of the transistor, I guess. 'Standing on the shoulders of giants', and all that...

Actually I'll say sliced bread. Everything else since has been 'the best thing since...' so it's obviously the benchmark by which other things should be measured.

You may be onto something, there. ;) Was sliced bread invented in the twentieth century? *shrugs*

rubber

Why? Or, shouldn't I ask? :/

Hujiklo

#10

Plastics

#11

plastics

Maybe, just a pity they aren't bio-degradable. :/

Doggie

#12

Guess I'm stuck in the 19th century cuz I think the internal combustion engine changed the face of the globe.

#13

I'm going to go with heavier than air flight.

dynaman

#14

Penicillin

DampeS8N

#15

You are all just trying to be different. The Transistor changed the entire globe. More-so than the internal combustion engine, or perhaps even Fire.

Not to mention it is a single invention. But I would still consider it the best even if you want to say it requires power, or silicon or ore-processing. That point is moot. All things are based on others.

Knotz

#16

Penicilline.

Grey Alien

#17

play doh or maybe pampers.

No wait, the microchip, mind you as DampeS8N says that's due to the transistor.

Grey Alien

#18

/me rubs chin

does it rasp or squeek?

#19

The Transistor changed the entire globe.

Except it didn't do anything new - it was just smaller. Also the Phillips patent prevented anyone from actually using it for the longest time.

#20

does it rasp or squeek?

Rasp! ;)

Also the Phillips patent prevented anyone from actually using it for the longest time.

Ya learn something new every day. Boo to Phillips!

DampeS8N

#21

Nothing new?

It only enabled microchips entirely.

It wasn't just 'smaller' it is MICROSCOPIC. While they didn't have the ability to make them that small at the time, it was possible.

They are also much faster than Vactubes.

Sphinx

#22

Internet

#23

DNA

#24

OK, as far as computers are concerned, my vote goes to...

the mouse! ;)

Grey Alien

#25

Actually the best thing I discovered was women, oh wait there's drugs and rock and roll too...

#26

DNA

Could well be. Only the future will tell, I guess.

EdzUp[SD]

#27

Electicity (as in a decent usable form of it)

#28

Electicity (as in a decent usable form of it)

I think we have a winner. ;)

Chroma

#29

That's easy. The best discovery was the UFO crash at Roswell, NM in 1947. That where we got all our current technology from. Duh!

Ross C

#30

Penicillin

Amon

#31

The Remote Control.

I'll tell you why. When I was a kid, my job while my dad was watching telly was to be the channel switcher. :)

Zenith

#32

I agree that the transistor plays such an important role in our modern digital age, without it, I highly doubt we would have advanced as exponentially as we do now, and that is that.

We advanced in all forms of science with the invention of the transistor, before it we didn't have the power, money, or time to build digital equipment that could do what it does and has done.

I design digital logic at the transistor level, and also at RTL, I humbly convey that this is the single most important invention of the 20th century, without it we may have found other methods, but it had such a profound effect everywhere you look.

Warpy

#33

Phosphate fertiliser. 6 billion people can't be wrong!

#34

I agree that the transistor plays such an important role in our modern digital age, without it, I highly doubt we would have advanced as exponentially as we do now, and that is that.

Except there are many more important types of semi conductors, and without VLSI and FPGA electronic devices would still not be consumer products. If electronics still had to be assembled one component at a time, the cost would be much too prohibitive to have had the impact it has had today.

#35

Electicity (as in a decent usable form of it)

I think we have a winner. ;)

Thomas Edison developed a practical light bulb toward the end of 1879

The electric iron was invented in 1882 by Henry W. Seeley

Thomas Davenport (July 9, 1802 -July 6, 1851) was an American blacksmith and inventor who established the first commercially successful electric streetcar. Davenport, from Vermont, invented an electric motor in 1834 and began a small electric railway in 1835. He patented a device for "Improvements in propelling machinery by magnetism and electromagnetism" in 1837 (his electric railway).

In 1886, Schulyer Wheeler invented the electric fan

David Misell qualifies as the inventor of the tubular flashlight and the early bicycle light in 1897

I dont know which is worse edzup saying Electricity, or Big saying it was a winner.

#36

What's wrong with electricity? :/

#37

of the twentieth Century

Amon

#38

BlitzBasic.

#39

of the twentieth Century

I see. We're talking about the mass market exposure to electricity here, though. A few scientists mucking about with sparks in a lab is no good to no-one. :)

#40

WHat???????

Electric Tram, Electric Bulb, Electric Fan, Electric Iron, Electric torch!!!!!!

What you mean is TV and Radio and computer, which are about the only 20th century electric inventions.

Edit: Ok, so there are more. The point is Electiricy was not invented in the 20th century, and saying it was just sparks in a lab, is just silly

Blitzplotter

#41

Wankle engine ?

#42

We're talking about the mass market exposure to electricity here, though. A few scientists mucking about with sparks in a lab is no good to no-one. :)

Actually electricity was commercially available at least as early as 1880.

On November 16, 1896, electrical power was sent from Niagara Falls to industries in Buffalo from the hydroelectric generators at the Edward Dean Adams Station.

Linky.

Cygnus

#43

Full Motion Pr0n?