NationStates Jolt Archive

What do you believe is the most useful invention ever?
My belief is Pants are. Think about how much you use pants in your daily life. Be thankful you have pants every morning when you wake up.

Come on you guys think of something!

Naaah... We had togas long before we had pants.

My pick would be the Internet. I'm sooo thankful Al Gore invented it.

Sliced bread.

Soap.

What do you believe is the most useful invention ever?
My belief is Pants are. Think about how much you use pants in your daily life. Be thankful you have pants every morning when you wake up.

Come on you guys think of something!
Pet Rocks.

Fire.

The plough.

Increased our food production enormously, leading to the rise of cities.

Either fire (provides light, heat, protection from animals, and the basis for quite a bit of human industry, from pot-making to steel-making), or the spear (good for killing animals and humans; from the first sharp rocks tied to sticks to modern bayonets, we've always used the things).

The plough.

Increased our food production enormously, leading to the rise of cities.
slaps for giving serious answer

I'am split between forging & the wheel.

Fire. Raw meat sucks.

Fire.

Fire wasn't so much invented as discovered. Right?

I'm going to go with toothbrushes.

I'am split between forging & the wheel.
*whispers into ear..
Go with the cheese slicer!

Instant coffee.

Without a doubt. Toilet Paper!

Go with the cheese slicer!
Yes, but we could just bite the cheese bit or cut it with a rock or spear, then put it on our...um...tree bark or something.

Fire wasn't so much invented as discovered. Right?
Yes, we tamed fire like we tamed goats and cows. But still, who esle does that? We invented ways on how to combust things: flint and still for example and rubbing things together, technology. Discovering fire would mean we found a forest fire, took a torch, lit a fire, and never bothered to actually create one, using the original fire to lite all other fires, ever. Which is a rather intriguing concept, I might add.

Fire wasn't so much invented as discovered. Right?

True, however, the method for producing it was invented...

Otherwise, you'd have to say that most significant inventions are nothing more than discoveries...the wheel, the lightbulb...microwaves...

"well lookie thar! If we done send electricit-ay across a filament, it shines with a shin-ey light! if i put them thar glass bubble around it, we can see at the night-ey time!"

Circular objects have always rolled, and electricity travelling along a filament has always heated it up. *shrugs*

The slide rule. It makes calculations so much easier! No longer do we have to slave away for an hour doing a problem, we can do it in a mere 10 minutes!

Fire wasn't invented.

There is no single greatest invention. But the greatest inventions are the wheel and axel, the lever, the wedge, the inclined plane, the screw and the pulley.

Yes, but we could just bite the cheese bit or cut it with a rock or spear, then put it on our...um...tree bark or something.


Yes, we tamed fire like we tamed goats and cows. But still, who esle does that? We invented ways on how to combust things: flint and still for example and rubbing things together, technology. Discovering fire would mean we found a forest fire, took a torch, lit a fire, and never bothered to actually create one, using the original fire to lite all other fires, ever. Which is a rather intriguing concept, I might add.


Alright, so to be more accurate inventions of items that create fire as opposed to inventing fire... I'm nitpicking for some odd reason today.

True, however, the method for producing it was invented...

Otherwise, you'd have to say that most significant inventions are nothing more than discoveries...the wheel, the lightbulb...microwaves...

"well lookie thar! If we done send electricit-ay across a filament, it shines with a shin-ey light! if i put them thar glass bubble around it, we can see at the night-ey time!"

Circular objects have always rolled, and electricity travelling along a filament has always heated it up. *shrugs*

Smartass. :p

Fire wasn't invented.

The method for producing it was.

Fire wasn't invented.

There is no single greatest invention. But the greatest inventions are the wheel and axel, the lever, the wedge, the inclined plane, the screw and the pulley.
I disagree. What about doorknobs? kitty litter? towels? chocolate?? traffic signs?? postcards??? Come on!

After fire, the best invention has to be:

BEER!

After fire, the best invention has to be:

BEER!

A man after my own heart. :D

BEER!

You win this thread.

I would have to say fire, or spears.

But WHEN were they all invented, and by WHO?

Surely, we're not the ONLY ones in the UNIVERSE with microwaves and wheels and toilet paper?

I'm sure at least ONE alien civilization made it this far BEFORE we even learned how to make fire! ;) :)

The printing press.
Allowed for mass dissemination of ideas. Led to an explosion of research and contact between intellectuals, scientists, philosophers etc etc.

The method for producing it was.

Which requires a wheel and axel. You can't tell me that banging a couple of rocks together is the most useful tool in these times?

Besides, a method doesn't count as an invention. An invention has to be something fabricated. Not just something naturally occuring, picked up and given a new use.

You win this thread.

Agreed. May as well close it now. :p

Language.
Although it's simultaneously also one of the worst..

Besides, a method doesn't count as an invention. An invention has to be something fabricated. Not just something naturally occuring, picked up and given a new use.

in·ven·tion Pronunciation Key (n-vnshn)
n.

1. The act or process of inventing: used a technique of her own invention.
2. A new device, method, or process developed from study and experimentation: the phonograph, an invention attributed to Thomas Edison.
3. A mental fabrication, especially a falsehood.
4. Skill in inventing; inventiveness: “the invention and sweep of the staging” (John Simon).
5. Music. A short composition developing a single theme contrapuntally.
6. A discovery; a finding.

Under 2 a method does count as invention. And under 6, so does picking up somethign naturally occuring and finding a new use for it.

Fire.

nope, pointy stick.

The Thermos.

Think about it. this one object keeps hot stuff hot, and cold stuff cold.


but how'd it know to do what to which?

the screw

Certainly near the top of my list. Such fun to be had... **reminisces**

but how'd it know to do what to which?

Magic.

birth control

The printing press.
Allowed for mass dissemination of ideas. Led to an explosion of research and contact between intellectuals, scientists, philosophers etc etc.
Since this has already been said, I'll say-
The transistor.

think how many babies you would have if it wasnt for birth control. come on, isnt that a scary concept? even scarier then no beer? (although beer might make it less traumatizing)

After fire, the best invention has to be:

BEER!

And Aspirin, for the morning after :D

printed circuit board or microprocessor.

no, probably the transistor.


basically, the computer.

The most useful invention ever: The concept of privacy.

my three favorites would have to be refrigeration, narrowgauge railways, and this thing setting in front of my, i.e. camputer at home connected to the internet.

i can't really think of any one thing i'd be completely lost without, but among undervalued everyday items i'd have to mention the common number 2 pencil and the mass produced sheet of paper.

other favorites of mine would have to include those folding saws for pruning that fit nicely in your back pack, along with mess kits and those eggbeater type hand drills that were the major thing for smaller work than a brace and bits before power drills came along.

ah and of course the backpack itself to carry them arround in.
the photo voltaic cell is pretty amazing and wonderful.

generators, motors, copper wire that makes them both possible.

i just notice too many things to reall pick one.

maybe eyes and brains to see and think about things with.

if we want to get back to REEEEEEEEEEEllly basics, there's what's called direct percussion which essentialy means beating two rocks to gather in such a way as to get part of one of them to break off in such a way as to give you a sharp edge with which to cut something

=^^=
.../\...

Fire.
It 's not an invent but a discovery

I choose writing

This, of course!

http://www.ertra.com/temp/weekly/japan_5.jpg

This, of course!

http://www.ertra.com/temp/weekly/japan_5.jpg

That is genius! Where can I get one? :D

Fir-wait a second! Everyone said that one!

I think it was the home entertainment system. As in, video games. Without them, we would all be outside playing and using our imagination. Now we can sit inside for hours and hours and have things imaginied for us on a large screen. Huzzah!

What do you believe is the most useful invention ever?
My belief is Pants are. Think about how much you use pants in your daily life. Be thankful you have pants every morning when you wake up.

Come on you guys think of something!
Pants?!? Pffft. Overrated.

I say teh interwebs

After fire, the best invention has to be:

BEER!
OMG I forgot about beer! :eek:


Damn hangover

Humor.

Written language is pretty good stuff too. *nod*

What do you believe is the most useful invention ever?
My belief is Pants are. Think about how much you use pants in your daily life. Be thankful you have pants every morning when you wake up.

Come on you guys think of something!
Why have pants when you can have a Kilt?

I say Fire or Women.

It's obvious that hyperbole is the greatest thing ever created by mankind.

Er... well, maybe the toothbrush then. Or toothpaste.

How about God, oh no you said useful invention

The Fender Stratocaster, by God!

The Fender Stratocaster, by God!
Overrated

Peace.

Although, hang on.. no - it hasn't been invented yet! :eek:



War, then.
Without war, there can't be peace. Halfway there!

Overrated

James Marshall Hendrix...

...end of discussion.

Velcro

:headbang:

I would have to say the compass

What do you believe is the most useful invention ever?
My belief is Pants are. Think about how much you use pants in your daily life. Be thankful you have pants every morning when you wake up.

Come on you guys think of something!
The electric light, no contest.

The electric light, no contest.
Not the hearing-aid?

toilet paper AND the wheel... without a wheel you couldnt HAVE a roll of toilet paper....

Not the hearing-aid?
[ puts hand to ear ] Huh? Wassat? Can't hear you! :p

The most useful invention ever: The concept of privacy.How is that useful? Or most useful?
A lot of things in live might be a lot easier if there never had been a concept of privacy. Certainly nobody would be bothered by invasion of privacy, since there wouldn't be any.
The only problem might be hiding things. Which, admittedly I wouldn't want to do without, but to say it's actually useful...

Glasses - otherwise, I'd be walking into walls! Oh wait...

A triple warhead missile with one thermonuclear warhead, one full of VX nerve gas, and one full of fast acting bioagents...

Oh wait, I wasn't supposed to reveal that one yet. :eek:

Seriously... the computer, and everything that went into it. The internet is a close follow-up.

Seriously... the computer, and everything that went into it. The internet is a close follow-up.
Boring... (oh wait... if it wasn't invented, I'd have no reason to be in school)...

C'mon... other useful inventions?

What about clocks & watches?

Boring... (oh wait... if it wasn't invented, I'd have no reason to be in school)...

C'mon... other useful inventions?

What about clocks & watches?
You can check the time on the bottom or top left corner of the computer screen (depending on your OS).

You can check the time on the bottom or top left corner of the computer screen (depending on your OS).
But you can disable it! :p

And we don't ALL live on a computer. You know...that time when we're in transit...

The Walking Stick.

The harnassing of electricity's a biggie. Likewise the steam engine, and the internal combustion engine. Flight's another one.
Look at how society was before the invention, then how it was a generation after. That should be some indication about how important that invention was.

I remember reading when Strom Thurmond was born there were only 8000 cars and just 144 miles of paved roads in the US.
Just think how much the US has changed due to motor vehicles literally in a lifespan.

My vote goes for food. I like it.

Food is good.

Since inventing concepts is still inventing, according to webster, I'm surprised you idiots(jk) haven't said this one yet: The invention of the concept of inventing. Think about it. If nobody invented inventing, nothing would get invented. There would be no computers or stoves or clothes(really inportant when it starts snowing) or tamed fire or pointy things.
pants aren't too important. After all, without pants, we'd use skirts to hide our privates from Jack Frost and possibly Mr. Foot.
vegans might not miss fire too much.
board games were early, non-electronic video games.

Somebody, or some thing, or some force, had to invent the universe we live in. At some point in time, this space we inhabit was a big black nothing, with nothing in it. And if there is a law of decay, all this will return to nothing in a few trillion years. Makes me wonder if this will be invented again, or will whoever, or whatever invented it in the first place, will give up.

A triple warhead missile with one thermonuclear warhead, one full of VX nerve gas, and one full of fast acting bioagents...

Oh wait, I wasn't supposed to reveal that one yet. :eek:

Seriously... the computer, and everything that went into it. The internet is a close follow-up.
Wouldn't the former cancel out both of the latter?

:mp5: guns!:sniper:

Wouldn't the former cancel out both of the latter?

Not if the warheads hit different targets.


As for the most USEFUL invention - Superlager!

the "finglonger".

Everyone... Thank... The KNIFE!

The concept of inventing. That's the most useful invention.

the fact that none ofyou agreed with me that birth control is the most useful indictes to me that all of you are unnatractive nerds that have never gotten laid :p

I'am split between forging & the wheel.

I vote forging. Forge enough money and you can hire a bunch of people to carry your wheelless car around for you. :)

the fact that none ofyou agreed with me that birth control is the most useful indictes to me that all of you are unnatractive nerds that have never gotten laid :p

The bulk of its potential use is population control. But the population is expanding by leaps and bounds all the time. Birth Control may be full of use, but that use is, so far, wasted.

Mariehamn's List of Useful Inventions:
1. Creation of tools that make fire
2. Beer, its cheap, good, and passes as food when poor
3. Specs, they let me see things, but I do alright without them, I wouldn't be so judgemental of people because I couldn't see them clearly
4. Best way to combine inventions one and two: SAUNA

However, with number four, that would involve woodworking, which would at least require a sharp blade of some kind, and a way to create an oven, and rocks, the spoon and bucket would also have to be invented, as well as the hinge, benches and stairs would have to come along too, and maybe even the concept of floors and bathing. If you really wanted to get hardcore, the idea of beating people with birch sticks would also have to come in.

Thumbs.

headfisting

What the crap? it's taken six pages and nobody mentioned it? I didn't see the OP forbidding it...



DUCT. TAPE.

Due to my present circumstance, i would have to say the Internet and the airplane.... :D

What the crap? it's taken six pages and nobody mentioned it? I didn't see the OP forbidding it...



DUCT. TAPE.
it's kinda like the Force. It has a dark side and a light side. And somehow it keeps everything in the universe together...

Walking boots as a modern invention.

Underfloor heating, thank you oh great Romans!

DUCT. TAPE.
What, Jesus Tape?

a dentist bar none

the toilet

Hot Dogs.
Genious way of recycling food and syntetic matterials. Mmmmm...

I'd say music. After that, the computer :)

Oh! Oh!

*raises hand excited*

Music!

The bulk of its potential use is population control. But the population is expanding by leaps and bounds all the time. Birth Control may be full of use, but that use is, so far, wasted.

yeah but at least they arent popping out of MY body...

Oh! Oh!

*raises hand excited*

Music!

Of course! How could I miss that?

Pistachios. We seriously need to find out who invented these things... give him a medal or something.

isn't inventing a concept some genious dude invented so that we have air and stuff? I mean, if you're not atheist/secularite, then you believe that god invented the most useful inventions ever:
stuff(think about how many stuff you have that are made out of stuff
inventing

Coloured Light Bulbs, How did we ever throw house party's with out them?

Oh! Oh!

*raises hand excited*

Music!

Music was not invented, it just appeared one day, out of Marc Bolan's Butt