What is the greatest Innovation/Invention in the history of the world?

2015-06-01T22:40:11-04:00

This is something I brought up at a History round table at my University and thought it would make a great topic here.

In your opinion, what do you think is the greatest invention/innovation in the History of Humans.

Inventions like the Typewriter, or Innovation like frozen vegetables.

Rules. You can not duplicate anyone's answer. If someone puts your first thought down, put your second thought. You must defend your opinion with a few sentences. This is a very broad category with no real limitations.

What is mine.... Heavier than air manned flight. Orville and Wilbur Wright, Dec 17, 1903. This is when humans truly move into another era. We are no longer held in check by the bounds of gravity, we no longer float we soar and explore in ways never thought possible. Everything from military use to transportation, flight comes to revolutionize even time itself as no longer is a trip around the world in days, weeks or months, it is measured in hours. The great thing is flight is still evolving.

Response by 2d Lt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2015 10:45 PM

2015-06-01T22:45:04-04:00

My first thoughts were the telephone and electric lightbulb, but those wouldn't exist without an ancient innovation: the transition from hunting and gathering to agricultural systems. Establishing a plot of land and working to farm it led to communities that led to villages that led to nations.

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made Jun 1 at 2015 10:53 PM

2015-06-01T22:53:37-04:00

If it weren't for RallyPoint, this question would never have been posted here.

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made Jun 1 at 2015 10:57 PM

2015-06-01T22:57:06-04:00

Besides the aforementioned RallyPoint, the iPhone may have been the greatest innovation...this allowed for the masses the opportunity to have any information at their fingertips. The iPhone has caused many products to become obsolete and allowed for many more to be developed.

Response by SFC William Farrell made Jun 1 at 2015 11:01 PM

2015-06-01T23:01:35-04:00

Electricity to light the world.

Response by SSG Gerhard S. made Jun 1 at 2015 11:10 PM

2015-06-01T23:10:22-04:00

I agree with SFC William Farrell, electricity.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Jun 1 at 2015 11:10 PM

2015-06-01T23:10:41-04:00

Poncho Liners. Let's see how many up-votes I get from fellow Infantrymen.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jun 1 at 2015 11:15 PM

2015-06-01T23:15:23-04:00

Great question MSgt Robert Pellam.
First spoken and subsequently written language. Without the ability to communicate our ideas in an understandable fashion virtually all other inventions would not have taken place.

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2015 11:18 PM

2015-06-01T23:18:11-04:00

Whoa, good question. I'm inclined to say something along the advances in medical science- The syringe. A simple tool but with a life saving impact.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Jun 1 at 2015 11:37 PM

2015-06-01T23:37:20-04:00

Duct Tape. Do I really need to explain?

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2015 11:53 PM

2015-06-01T23:53:25-04:00

For all of us who are quite near-sighted, basic optics technology to create eyeglasses. I know many people, including myself, who would be near invalids without it. haha

Response by LTC John Shaw made Jun 1 at 2015 11:59 PM

2015-06-01T23:59:18-04:00

Water filtration and sanitation, which has allowed for people to aggregate into towns and villages to exchange ideas.

Response by CW3 Craig Linghor made Jun 2 at 2015 12:17 AM

2015-06-02T00:17:06-04:00

The wheel of course.

Response by TSgt Kenneth Ellis made Jun 2 at 2015 12:55 AM

2015-06-02T00:55:09-04:00

The wheels. Does it need an explanation?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2015 5:39 AM

2015-06-02T05:39:49-04:00

Vaccines.
Vaccines have saved more and military and civilian, than almost any other advancement. We're finally at a point in warfare where most losses aren't due to illness and disease.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2015 7:43 AM

2015-06-02T07:43:13-04:00

I am going to say the atlatl, one of the first ranged weapons.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2015 8:28 AM

2015-06-02T08:28:18-04:00

PT Belt, keeping us Soldiers safe at all times

Response by PO2 Christopher Taggart made Jun 2 at 2015 9:44 AM

2015-06-02T09:44:06-04:00

I DID AND HAVE ONLY MILITARY GRADE LEVEL III NOT IIIA BUT III COMBAT SHIELD OUT THERE------ I never worry about dynamic entry or IEDs too bad military of today thinks too much what is commend on them?

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Jun 2 at 2015 9:53 AM

2015-06-02T09:53:39-04:00

Formal Education, nothing beats knowledge.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2015 10:02 AM

2015-06-02T10:02:29-04:00

America......do I need to say more?

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Jun 2 at 2015 10:08 AM

2015-06-02T10:08:43-04:00

Toilet paper is right up there!

Response by SPC David S. made Jun 2 at 2015 10:57 AM

2015-06-02T10:57:11-04:00

Since so many of the 'good ones' are already taken I'm going to go with music - serves no other purpose than to sooth the savage beast. In the vastness of the universe Earth may well be the only place where music exists. Based on mathematics it could be a universal language, music also can help reduce chronic pain by more than 20% and can alleviate depression by up to 25% and termites eat wood twice as fast when listening to heavy metal music.

http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/news/20111227/music-may-ease-pain

Study: Music Can Ease Pain

Losing yourself in music really may help take the sting out of a root canal or other painful medical procedure -- especially if you are feeling anxious about it.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2015 11:24 AM

2015-06-02T11:24:28-04:00

The micro chip.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2015 11:32 AM

2015-06-02T11:32:51-04:00

The mass production of soap.

I guess it's not my favorite, but I feel like it's the most under-rated.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jun 2 at 2015 11:46 AM

2015-06-02T11:46:44-04:00

I love the responses based on humor. All others are subject to debate. However, that has never stopped me before, has it?

The simple fact is that if we were asked to name a great invention, we could build a list and that list would have to include all already mentioned (including some of the humorous ones) as well as the first tool to make fire. But when we are asked to name "The Greatest Invention", the operative word is "The". Think about it.

Of all the great advances in medicine, which pill is "The Pill"? Yeah, you know where I'm going. It seems that "The" thing that preoccupies most of our thinking is sex and that makes me believe that "The" invention must have something to do with it.

Is some sex toy "The Greatest Invention"?

Will some Japanese pleasure bot become The Greatest Invention?

I ask you, seriously...

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Jun 2 at 2015 11:54 AM

2015-06-02T11:54:36-04:00

Birth Control, for without it, the world would be over-populated with more dumbasses than we are now!!!

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jun 2 at 2015 12:06 PM

2015-06-02T12:06:39-04:00

http://www.npr.org/2015/05/26/408794149/dont-write-off-paper-just-yet

Response by MSgt James Mullis made Jun 2 at 2015 12:44 PM

2015-06-02T12:44:32-04:00

I'll go against the political correctness crowd and say "genetically modified food". Look up the name Norman Borlaug on the internet and you'll discover that this one man has saved well over a BILLION people from starvation. He did it by developing high-yield, low-pesticide dwarf wheat, which a substantial portion of the world's population now depends for sustenance.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 2 at 2015 12:59 PM

2015-06-02T12:59:30-04:00

Beer

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Jun 2 at 2015 1:41 PM

2015-06-02T13:41:16-04:00

Electricity

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2015 1:52 PM

2015-06-02T13:52:22-04:00

Had to read these, was expecting to see my first thought: FIRE! Without fire, we would be freezing during the winter, and cooking our food would be difficult. Would you want to filet a fish and eat it raw? What about a chicken? Not only that, its fun to play with and watch it grow bigger and bigger. FIRE is my winner.

Response by SPC Nathan Freeman made Jun 2 at 2015 2:25 PM

2015-06-02T14:25:05-04:00

The written language would be my vote. Without it, many other inventions might have never been invented.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2015 2:25 PM

2015-06-02T14:25:28-04:00

How about the American Dollar?

Its a hybrid piece of paper that is/was coveted across the globe, from it being able to turn into all of the things mentioned here and beyond.

It has "paid" for offensives/defensives, infrastructure, and many other things and technologies across this nation, globe and in space.

It has fed and hydrated populations, responded to emergencies and natural disasters.

Just thinking out of the box here....

Response by PO2 Christopher Taggart made Jun 2 at 2015 3:55 PM

2015-06-02T15:55:10-04:00

Did Harley and Davidson think outside the box ? Yeah and new form of transportation and truly the IRON HORSE was created HARLEY DAVIDSON?

Response by PO2 Matthew White made Jun 2 at 2015 5:04 PM

2015-06-02T17:04:16-04:00

These are very entertaining debates. The greatest invention or innovation I think is the wheel because in some way shape or form it was involved in every other advancement afterwards.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2015 9:03 PM

2015-06-02T21:03:56-04:00

MSgt Robert Pellam, I have two friends who discussed this very question. One asked the other what he thought was the greatest invention in the world. The other friend answered it is the thermos bottle. My friend asked him why was it the thermos bottle. My other friend answered, because if you put something hot in it, it stays hot. If you put something cold in it, it stays cold. My friend said, that is what it is supposed to do. My other friend asked, yes, but how does it know? This a picture of the friend.

Response by 1SG Scott MacGregor made Jun 2 at 2015 9:42 PM

2015-06-02T21:42:03-04:00

P-38....got to open our beer somehow...

Response by SP5 Michael Rathbun made Jun 4 at 2015 7:54 PM

2015-06-04T19:54:16-04:00

The hafted stone axe. Completely changed the world.

Response by COL Jon Thompson made Jun 5 at 2015 10:30 PM

2015-06-05T22:30:52-04:00

Sewer systems which helped eliminate the spread of disease.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 6 at 2015 8:29 AM

2015-06-06T08:29:25-04:00

The telegraph. Without it any number of subsequent inventions wouldn't have been brought up. Think about it: telephones, long distance calling, Internet, you name it.

Response by SFC Joseph Weber made Jun 7 at 2015 7:18 AM

2015-06-07T07:18:41-04:00

Kindle.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Jun 23 at 2015 11:43 AM

2015-06-23T11:43:03-04:00

Fire.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Jun 25 at 2015 12:38 PM

2015-06-25T12:38:59-04:00

Because no one else has said it: The pick up line, with out it man would of been a blip in history!

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2015 3:14 PM

2015-06-25T15:14:30-04:00

the aglet.....without it we'd all still be sandals.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Sep 12 at 2016 2:34 AM

2016-09-12T02:34:35-04:00

MSgt Robert Pellam Marconi's electric 'Waves'!

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 5 at 2016 6:23 PM

2016-10-05T18:23:50-04:00

Polio vaccine. Without it we would have thousands or more children with this deadly disease.