From the printing press to the personal computer, the radio to the iPod touch, gadgets have changed how we communicate, learn, absorb entertainment, and laugh at nerds. But which was the biggest game-changer of all?
I’ll start things off by paying homage to a gadget that changed the world from the mid-15th century until… well, until just a few months ago. I’m talking about the Gutenberg printing press, without which we’d still have to endure the oft-illegible handwriting found in illuminated manuscripts and science students’ notes. We may be experiencing (some would say contributing to) the death of print, but good old Johannes Gutenberg had a great run there for the past few centuries. But it’s an easy argument that the personal computer is just as revolutionary a gadget as the printing press, and took root far faster. The clock, bicycle, lightbulb, and beer-filled USB drive are all totally valid answers as well.
For the sake of argument, let’s define gadget as either a mechanical or technological device from the modern era. Sorry to the jokers who were going to say “a rock!” or “fire!”
As a side note, the first person to say the iPhone will get a personally written Angry Windows Guy message from me, the only exclusive Windows user left on staff. But what say you, commenters? What is the most important gadget ever made?
Ryan Golla
April 30, 2009 at 3:37 PM
I would have to say for me is the mobile phone. A great communication tool everyone can use. Even if you just need it to make phone calls. I think the landline will be phased out if this trend doesn’t fade.
Report PermalinkDr_Stef
April 30, 2009 at 4:28 PM
The Flux Capacitor.
Without it, we wouldn’t have Back To The Future Pt 1 and 2.
Report Permalink(O what the hey, lets go wild and include pt 3 too lol)
Matt H
April 30, 2009 at 5:09 PM
Sliced bread!
Report PermalinkSeany
April 30, 2009 at 5:12 PM
The Telephone.
Without we wouldnt be able to communicate long distance and the Cuban Missile Crisis would of happened and lets face it. We’d all bet dead
Report Permalinkdelestre
April 30, 2009 at 8:05 PM
the wireless remote control of course
Report PermalinkHas reduced the need of muscle energy by a factor 3000x ; has created a generation of coach potatoes in front of TV as you don’t have to stand up to change the channel and therefore enables multi-channel, enabled to find your car in a parking lot without having to remind the exact place, opens and closes garage doors without having to get out of your car in the bad weather, has invaded the kitchen/bedroom/dining room table to control the VCR, satellite dish, lightning, radio, sound, fan, electric bed, heating, alarm,… in second place i would mention the DELETE button on a keyboard which is the second biggest invention after the computer, although it is a little a scam because nothing is ever deleted in this computer world, also not this posting.