Now, back to the important stuff--the Best Invention in the History of the World! Now, I'm not talking about "best discoveries"; that's another debate. And I'm not talking about mini-inventions like the mousetrap, the toothbrush, can openers, toilet paper holders, remote controls, I-Pods, trusses, Beanie Babies, or the bra for example. I want to nominate the greatest invention ever; the major criterion is that it has to be used all over the world and secondly, it has to have improved the quality of life. Someone mentioned "gravity"--but that is a discovery, not an invention. Now, the wheel was invented by a guy named Moishe Round, I believe...tho' I'm not sure. I think he was trying to find a way to make it easier for the Jews to lug the stones up to the pyramids
When we study the great inventions of the world, we find that they are either very simple, basic things like the wheel or very complex things like the computer. Some inventions were silly, some deadly serious, but even the inventions that were not successful were not all failures either. Each invention shed some light on the good intentions of the inventor and their quest to improve the quality of life.
In 1440, German inventor Johannes Gutenberg invented a printing press process that, with refinements and increased mechanization, remained the principal means of printing until the late 20th century. The inventor's method of printing from movable type, including the use of metal molds and alloys, a special press, and oil-based inks, allowed for the first time the mass production of printed books. It had a huge effect on religion after he printed the Bible and people had to learn to read in order to interpret the Holy Book for themselves. But was this the "Best Ever"? In 1871 Seth Wheeler obtained the first patent for Toilet Paper on a roll. Before that, in 1371 in China toilet paper was first used (by the Emperor) on sheets 2' x 3'. Must have been a very big Emperor. Now, this may be one of the silly ones, but think of the cost of dry cleaning has been saved.
Now, the great inventions must be considered of course: such as the Automobile (Karl Benz), the Airplane (Wright Bros.), Bifocals (B. Franklin), the Elevator (Otis), the Cotton Gin (Whitney), the Internet (Vinton Cerf), the Telephone (A.G. Bell), Television, and the World Wide Web (Tim Berner-Lee). But my choice for the Greatest Invention in the History of the World is the Electric Light Bulb which lit up the Planet and saved it from the fiery darkness. Thanks, Thomas. Now, next--who are the Greatest Actor and Actress in the History of the World? And your nominees? And will someone invent a better name for the award than "Oscar"?
1 comment:
The greatest invention ever??
I say the Bidet. Hey, don't knock it until you tried it.
Mike Herbstman
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