What is the greatest Invention of Mankind?

[DrkProdigy]

...Peanut Butter Best Invention

[slicendice]

I'm thinking it may be fire, as fire lead to the invention and use of many other things.

Other than that, it could be the internet, as it allows so many people to communicate over such a small amount of time, yet such a large distance.

[Newptor]

Resisting the temptation to comment on any of the sidetracked topics and not buying into ideas being inventions, which rules out some huge discoveries such as math, the value of pi, etc. I'd probably have to agree that the wheel is the greatest with molten iron, steel, paper and the printing press being in the top five in no particular order.

To those who said the internet, etc.; as much as it's changed the world, I just don't agree it's the greatest.

Side Note: A few years back there was an interview in one of my local papers with a very old lady. I think she was 110 and it was probably in 2000 because the gist of the article was about how much things had changed in the 20th century. Anyways, part of the interview went something like this:

Reporter
Of all the wonderful inventions in the last century, airplanes, cars, rockets, etc., which do you think was the greatest?

Old Lady
the electric iron. She then went on to describe the involved process on "wash day" of planning the time when the fire could be used, (not interfering with meals) heat up the iron and on and on.

Paper will soon disappear. The written word shall live on for as long as civilization exists.

They've been predicting the paperless office since before the desktop was even thought of. I'm still waiting.

[Voulkos]

Birth Control.

(Who wants the Latex anyway?)

[Newptor]

Ckazhite who knows saytets where you can safely write and publish an article without registering . Thank you.

hmmm, Welcome to the forums!

PS: Yana, check your inbox.

[DonDee]

They've been predicting the paperless office since before the desktop was even thought of. I'm still waiting.

Fair enough. But remember that the written word existed before paper. And while the paper-less office is not (yet) fact, it is conceivable (yes?).

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But I changed my mind. The greatest invention would be the the TV remote control!

[irchie]

best invention?? thats easy, the bendy straw!!!

so many unspilt drinks and so many neck sprains prevented.

truly a life changer

[Newptor]

Don,

I wasn't disagreeing with what you said about the written word, just making an observation about no more paper. Yes, it is certainly conceivable, I might even say likely someday, but what we've found so far is that people want a hard copy of important stuff. I have a feeling that if it ever changes, it won't be for a long long time and the creation of much a more secure means of retention.

You do make a good point about the written word.

[wpack10]

Ignoring thread. If fire or something to make fire in a controlled fashion or whatever that would be the most important.

If not the Wheel is easily the most important invention in the history of mankind.

[ruudong1]

it has to be boob implants