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stretch
11-13-2009, 10:50 AM
What is the single greatest invention in the last 10 years. 1999-2009. How has it affected peoples lives? Who created it and how? Big invention or small invention? Is it an invention that would be ever evolving? Does it have staying power into the next 10, 20, 30 or more years?

Elaborate.

Google. Or really, internet search engines in general. Granted, they have been around for longer than 10 years, but they really became huge in the last 10 years.

Now I don't really know that much background info on Google and such companies, and don't really care. If you wanna learn, then Wikipedia it (IMO Wikipedia being another great invention of the last 10 years)

In regards to the question about it's evolving nature and "staying power", I think the fact that "googling" things has become such a commonly used term for anything requiring research, should answer the question in itself.
PM5K
11-13-2009, 10:58 AM
Wow, talk about a total lack of effort.

Next week can we get the SPOTW?
iilluzioN
11-13-2009, 11:21 AM
ipod
Slomo
11-13-2009, 11:40 AM
The basic principle of Google and search engines are older than 10 years. It's the expansion of the internet that made them so much more relevant (basically you can search for very obscure stuff and get a hit - which wasn't necessarily true 10 years ago). So Google is wrong.

Most popular: iPod
Most useful: GPS car navigation
EmptyMan
11-13-2009, 11:42 AM
Between search engines and forums (mainly forums), I have been able to teach myself so much shit it is ridiculous.

You could probably learn to build an entire house from the ground up if you spent enough time searching for information resources.
BacktoBasics
11-13-2009, 11:44 AM
Between search engines and forums (mainly forums), I have been able to teach myself so much shit it is ridiculous.

You could probably learn to build an entire house from the ground up if you spent enough time searching for information resources.This is true. My wife asked me the other night. "do have a forum for every damn hobby you have". Answer yes. The ability to learn and research stuff to death is pretty fucking handy.
stretch
11-13-2009, 11:46 AM
The basic principle of Google and search engines are older than 10 years. It's the expansion of the internet that made them so much more relevant (basically you can search for very obscure stuff and get a hit - which wasn't necessarily true 10 years ago). So Google is wrong.

Most popular: iPod
Most useful: GPS car navigation

shut up please

i already said they have been around longer than that

and yes, the expansion of the internet made them relevant, but without search engines, people wouldnt know where to look on the internet for anything

IMO, google is greatness. if you dont agree, good for you, fatty.
Slomo
11-13-2009, 11:53 AM
shut up please

i already said they have been around longer than that

and yes, the expansion of the internet made them relevant, but without search engines, people wouldnt know where to look on the internet for anything

IMO, google is greatness. if you dont agree, good for you, fatty.

Thank you for agreeing with me and admitting your failure.

Google is greatness but not just the last 10 years.
DarkReign
11-13-2009, 11:56 AM
Slomo nailed it.

iPod or MP3 players in general.

GPS I could see as well (i dont travel much, but i am sure GPS is a god-send for those who do).

I am just trying to think of something I use everyday that I didnt 10 years ago and the only thing I can think of is an iPod.
stretch
11-13-2009, 12:00 PM
Thank you for agreeing with me and admitting your failure.

Google is greatness but not just the last 10 years.

was "googling" things the norm for research over 10 years ago? no. search engines just started to really get popular around the start of this decade, and halfway through is when "googling" was a universal term.

almost every single invention was actually "invented" well before people realized. you could say the same about "ipod" (aka mp3 players which were already developed well over 20 years ago) and "GPS" (developed even farther back than that) which were some things you listed. how about doing some research and knowing what you are talking about, instead of trying to be a smartass, which you fail miserably at.
angel_luv
11-13-2009, 12:02 PM
Wasn't Spurstalk invented in the last decade?

I know I have made a lot of lasting friendships and have had a bunch of great times as result of this site.

I do not ( yet) own a GPS system or an Ipod. I utilize Spurstalk everyday, and have for years now.
stretch
11-13-2009, 12:04 PM
Wasn't Spurstalk invented in the last decade?

:tu
Slomo
11-13-2009, 12:21 PM
was "googling" things the norm for research over 10 years ago? no. search engines just started to really get popular around the start of this decade, and halfway through is when "googling" was a universal term.

almost every single invention was actually "invented" well before people realized. you could say the same about "ipod" (aka mp3 players which were already developed well over 20 years ago) and "GPS" (developed even farther back than that) which were some things you listed. how about doing some research and knowing what you are talking about, instead of trying to be a smartass, which you fail miserably at.

Actually it was the norm. Well maybe not the norm but one of the main tools for research - just as I believe it is now. Even with the proliferation of the internet you can't rely solely on search engines.

The idea behind the iPod is much more than just an mp3 player. Its sound quality, operating system and incredibly intuitive user interface made it stand above mere players (yes I'm taalking about the 1st generation devices) and I haven't even started on the idea of buying music on line and one song at the time (iTune is an integral part of the iPod idea) or the idea of carrying your complete music collection with you all the time.

While you are correct about GPS, satnav is a much more recent invention.
I. Hustle
11-13-2009, 12:25 PM
Do you ever have problems putting Visine in your eyes?

http://students.ou.edu/R/Basil.G.Rayan-1/Picture3.jpgFTW!
stretch
11-13-2009, 12:30 PM
Actually it was the norm. Well maybe not the norm but one of the main tools for research - just as I believe it is now. Even with the proliferation of the internet you can't rely solely on search engines.

The idea behind the iPod is much more than just an mp3 player. Its sound quality, operating system and incredibly intuitive user interface made it stand above mere players (yes I'm taalking about the 1st generation devices) and I haven't even started on the idea of buying music on line and one song at the time (iTune is an integral part of the iPod idea) or the idea of carrying your complete music collection with you all the time.

While you are correct about GPS, satnav is a much more recent invention.

:blah

ipod = advanced mp3 player

key words, mp3 player
Slomo
11-13-2009, 12:35 PM
That's like saying the walkman is just another tape player...
:rolleyes
CosmicCowboy
11-13-2009, 12:38 PM
Internet search engines were already here. Personally, If you want to talk last 10 years I think that 3G/4G protocol is going to be the biggest invention of the last 10 years.
PM5K
11-13-2009, 12:52 PM
You might as well say broadband then. 3G/4G isn't even being used fully, and the people that provide the networks don't even want you to.
CosmicCowboy
11-13-2009, 12:56 PM
You might as well say broadband then. 3G/4G isn't even being used fully, and the people that provide the networks don't even want you to.

That's why I say it's going to be the invention made in the last 10 years that will have the longest and greatest impact on our lives. The commercialization of wireless data compression is just in it's infancy and there are an unlimited numner of commercial applications that haven't even been invented yet.
stretch
11-13-2009, 01:02 PM
That's like saying the walkman is just another tape player...
:rolleyes

lol mp3 player
stretch
11-13-2009, 01:02 PM
That's why I say it's going to be the invention made in the last 10 years that will have the longest and greatest impact on our lives. The commercialization of wireless data compression is just in it's infancy and there are an unlimited numner of commercial applications that haven't even been invented yet.

if it becomes 5G and 6G, then 3G and 4G is useless

:td
I. Hustle
11-13-2009, 01:10 PM
Wait, when were hookers invented?
monosylab1k
11-13-2009, 01:14 PM
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3571/3370577987_d9f28cfe0f.jpg
EmptyMan
11-13-2009, 01:16 PM
This is true. My wife asked me the other night. "do have a forum for every damn hobby you have". Answer yes. The ability to learn and research stuff to death is pretty fucking handy.

Yep, and from a consumer standpoint it has given 100% of the power to the purchaser. On any purchase basically over $100, I literally study the ins and outs of the product I am thinking about buying, compare it to other competitors, etc. Anyone can get on the internet and find the negatives and positives a product has (things the manufacturer would never even admit to); not to mention being able to find the cheapest legit place of purchase.
SpursWoman
11-13-2009, 01:19 PM
You could probably learn to build an entire house from the ground up if you spent enough time searching for information resources.

I learned how to replace (2) window regulators myself from some obscure website I found through Google and saved about $1,000 easy. It's fabulous ... and I brag about that every chance I get. :)
SpursWoman
11-13-2009, 01:23 PM
SGPS I could see as well (i dont travel much, but i am sure GPS is a god-send for those who do).

I use the one one my phone a lot more than I thought I ever would. Doctor's offices, stores ... when we were looking for a new house it truly was a god-send.
CosmicCowboy
11-13-2009, 01:49 PM
I will net an easy 10-20K a year from federal government buyers that call me trying to buy weird stuff and I will just track it down on the internet and mark it up 30% and sell it to them.
DarkReign
11-13-2009, 03:03 PM
Time Magazine's 50 Best Inventions 2009 (http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0,29569,1934027,00.html)

Obviously not over the past 10 years like thread asks, but nonetheless.

One thing on that list sticks waaaaaay out....guess which one?
BacktoBasics
11-13-2009, 03:28 PM
AIDS vaccine
DarkReign
11-13-2009, 03:36 PM
AIDS vaccine

Winner winner, chicken dinner
BacktoBasics
11-13-2009, 03:49 PM
Is that shit even real. I heard bits and pieces here and there but never any definitive vaccine.
Slomo
11-13-2009, 03:55 PM
That's why I say it's going to be the invention made in the last 10 years that will have the longest and greatest impact on our lives. The commercialization of wireless data compression is just in it's infancy and there are an unlimited numner of commercial applications that haven't even been invented yet.

Very true. The 3G networks in Europe are very solid, but it wasn't until a few months ago when roaming prices were regulated (1MB of data download/upload while roaming now costs the exact same in all the EU countries) that the use of data exploded.
Here's one that I use all the time: www.worldmate.com
Everything you need while traveling in your pocket (warns of airline delays, weather, hotel bookings....).

BTW I now pay 10% of what I used to pay for my data roaming and I use data comms a lot more than I used to - roaming fees were institutionalized robbery.