‘Greatest inventions of all time revealed' as survey puts the internet, penicillin and TV on the list
A poll of 2,000 adults saw electric power generation, which Thomas Edison is widely credited as inventing, come top.
Advertisement
2
THE greatest inventions of all time have been revealed in a new survey
Credit: National News
2
Electric power generation came top but sadly there was no place for sliced bread in the top 40
Credit: Rosie Windsor / SWNS
Sir Tim Berners-Lee's 1990 creation - the internet came second, followed in third spot by penicillin, which Sir Alexander Fleming discovered in 1928.
More recent inventions such as the smartphone, GPS, and the 3D printer all made the top 40 but there was no place for sliced bread.
Commissioned to mark the launch of the new non-disposable Vuse Ultra vape, which includes smart features and is made from high-grade aluminium, the research found 56 per cent would struggle any longer than a day without using technology.
And on average they spend six and a half hours glued to their device daily , with 12 per cent doing so for 12 hours or more.
Advertisement
Read more News
A spokesperson said: 'It's clear Brits are embracing technology that makes their lives better in one way or another – with all of these small improvements adding up to a big difference in their day-to-day life.'
The research also found that other popular inventions include home appliances such as the television, the refrigerator, the washing machine, the microwave, and the vacuum.
Transport methods such as the airplane, the car, the steam engine, and the bicycle also secured lots of votes.
While vaccinations and the defibrillator joined penicillin in representing the world of medicine, with energy sources such as the battery and solar panels well-liked.
Advertisement
Most read in The Sun
The study also found the typical adult spends £1,013 a year on new tech, with those aged 25 to 34 spending the most - £2,121.
According to 54 per cent, the best thing about modern gadgets is how they make life easier, while 34 per cent appreciate how some tech helps keep them connected to loved ones.
Watch Tesla test self-driving cars on London streets & Swindon's 'Magic Roundabout'
It also emerged 21 per cent believe they have the potential to develop a 'good' invention.
With possible inventions including 24/7 battery life in devices, a smart shoe which tracks steps, and a fridge on wheels.
Advertisement
Carried out through OnePoll, the research for Vuse Ultra, which is available in stores nationwide and includes features such as 'Flavour Autotune' and 'CloudControl' and syncs with the MyVuse app, also identified the tech we expect to exist by 2050 with robots or androids as household helpers coming top (30 per cent).
Implantable health monitors (29 per cent) and AI personal assistants (28 per cent) completed the top three.
Further predictions include universal translators to enable seamless communication (22 per cent), virtual reality holidays and experiences (17 per cent), and self-cleaning homes (15 per cent)
TOP 40 GREATEST INVENTIONS OF ALL TIME:
1. Electric power generation
2. The internet
3. Penicillin
4. Vaccinations
5. Television
6. Airplane
7. Telephone
8. Computer
9. The wheel
10 Light bulb
11. The car
12. Smartphone
13. Refrigerator
14. Defibrillator
15. Radio
16. Steam engine
17. Camera
18. Washing machine
19. Satellites
20. Battery
21. Internet browser (e.g. Google, Safari etc.)
22. Printing press
23. Electric motors (e.g. in fans, cars, power tools etc.)
24. GPS (Global Positioning System)
25. Solar panels
26. AI
27. Compass
28. Microwave
29. Air conditioning
30. Contactless payment
31. Bicycle
32. Helicopter
33. Telescope
34. Vacuum
35. ATM (Automated Teller Machine)
36. Smartwatch
37. Sewing machine
38. Electric kettle
39. 3D printer
40. Drones
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Extra.ie
a day ago
- Extra.ie
Man ends 12-year hunt for €800m bitcoin in landfill
A Welsh computer engineer who has spent 12 years trying to find his now €800m bitcoin fortune has given up on his mission. James Howell previously said his ex-partner accidentally took the hard drive containing his Bitcoin wallet to a dump in the summer of 2013. The Welsh man fought tirelessly to gain access to the dump in order to retrieve the hard drive with his fortune. James Howell. Pic: Lee Howell/SWNS Newport Council told Mr Howell that the property had became theirs once it entered the landfill site. At the start of the year, a legal case was launched by Mr Howell, though Circuit Commerical Judge for Wales Judge Keysey dismissed it on lack of 'reasonable grounds.' Mr Howell even offered to share his monies with the dump, but to no avail. Newport Council told Mr Howell that the property had became theirs once it entered the landfill site. Pic: Tom Wren/SWNS The landfill is reported to have more than 1.4 million tonnes of rubbish, though Mr Howell had narrowed the location of his hard drive to an area of 100,000 tonnes. Following reports that Howell had quit his mission, he told The Block that following an offer to purchase Newport landfill site, he had 'pivoted' his strategy. A token offer of between €28m and €34m was made to the City Council, with Howell stating: 'If they won't sell, there's no need for a token sale to buy the landfill. 'I am no longer pursuing the purchase of the landfill, I am no longer pursuing excavation or remediation, I am no longer pursuing dialogue with the council or its representatives.' Instead, Howell is moving to tokenize his legal ownership of the lost BItcoin fortune, which may be possible following the launch of a new Bitcoin Layer 2 smart token called Ceiniog Coin (INI). The Welsh man noted that while the hard drive may belong to the Council now, the digital contents do not.
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Gmail account holders need to follow 5 rules to avoid potentially losing thousands of pounds & causing ‘weeks of stress'
Extra time spent checking could save you far more in the long-run EMAIL ALERT Gmail account holders need to follow 5 rules to avoid potentially losing thousands of pounds & causing 'weeks of stress' GMAIL account holders need to follow five rules to avoid potentially losing thousands of pounds & causing 'weeks of stress'. The summer months are full of ice-cream, outings, staycations and holidays, but it means people are more likely have their guard down. 7 Google account holders are warned to take five steps Credit: Getty 7 Scammers are more active in the summer months as Brits are caught off gaurd Credit: Getty IT Security firm FoxTech have warned that some Brits may be at risk of potentially losing thousands of pounds. With the rise of artificial intelligence, scammers are using more realistic ways to catch people into being scammed. The team at the company explained: "Scammers are fully aware that summer is a time when many people naturally relax their guard. "Whether they're caught up in the excitement of booking a last-minute getaway or simply waiting on a steady stream of online orders to arrive. 'Inboxes become crowded with enticing offers and seemingly routine updates, which is precisely what cybercriminals are counting on to slip past our usual caution." They have provided five ways in which you could avoid a terrible summer and have maximum enjoyment of the delights of summer. Double-check before clicking 7 Yoiu can take steps to make sure you don't click on phishing sites Credit: Getty You must always hover over links to see where they really lead. Some links might be phishing emails which aim to steal your data through what looks like an urgent message. It is advised that you should be as cautious as possible of any message that is trying to rush you into taking action. The team at FoxTech advised: "Inboxes become crowded with enticing offers and seemingly routine updates, which is precisely what cybercriminals are counting on to slip past our usual caution. AI tricks to beat scammers as scam texts, calls and emails surge "Taking just a little extra time to examine the links you're clicking on or to verify who has actually sent a message can ultimately prevent what might otherwise turn into weeks of stress, financial loss and disruption." Delivery updates 7 Ever received a parcel delivery text? It might be fake Credit: Getty It is advised that you should verify delivery updates directly with any provider. Many users get texts or messages about alleged delivery parcels, but these may be fake. However, instead of clicking the link you should go to the courier's official website itself to check for updates. How to spot a dodgy app Detecting a malicious app before you hit the 'Download' button is easy when you know the signs. Follow this eight-point checklist when you're downloading an app you're unsure about: Check the reviews - be wary of both complaints and uniformly positive reviews by fake accounts. Look out for grammar mistakes - legitimate app developers won't have typos or errors in their app descriptions. Check the number of downloads - avoid apps with only several thousand downloads, as it could be fake. Research the developer - do they have a good reputation? Or, are totally fake? Check the release date - a recent release date paired with a high number of downloads is usually bad news. Review the permission agreement - this agreement gives permission for the app to take bits of your data, and fake apps often ask for additional data that is not necessary. Check the update frequency - an app that is updated too frequently is usually indicative of security vulnerabilities. Check the icon - look closely, and don't be deceived by distorted, lower-quality versions the icons from legitimate apps. All of this information will available in both Apple's App Store and the Google Play Store. Foxtech added: "Scams are evolving rapidly, and what might look like a harmless deal or a routine delivery text could end up draining your bank account or exposing your personal data. "Taking a few extra seconds to verify a message can spare you weeks of stress and financial headaches." Research travel deals 7 Make sure you check the legitimacy of travel deals directly with providers Credit: Getty Have you ever thought something is too good to be true? Well that's because maybe it is! Scammers like to entice you to click onto harmful links, and one of the ways they do so is through fake travel advert deals. People could find themselves paying hundreds or even thousands of pounds for trips that simply don't exist The team at FoxTech You are advised to check independent reviews of providers and to make sure you confirm website contact details before clicking on anything. Many users are also advised to make sure you are making a booking through an official platform before you pay. The IT firm warned: "People could find themselves paying hundreds or even thousands of pounds for trips that simply don't exist, only to realise they've handed over sensitive personal and payment details to organised cybercriminals." Boarding passes. 7 The barcode on your boarding pass contains personal information Credit: Getty A nightmare scenario, you board a plane and someone is sitting in your seat. To avoid this, you should never post travel documents online, which includes boarding passes. Make sure to keep your tickets private because the barcode on the ticket may contain personal information. What is phishing? HERE's what you need to know: Phishing is a type of online fraud It's typically an attempt to nab some of your data Phishing generally involves scammers posing as a trustworthy entity For instance, fraudsters could send you an email claiming to be your bank, asking for details Scammers can also set up fake websites that look like real ones, simply to hoodwink you Phishing can take place over email, social media, texts, phone calls and more The best defence against phishing is to be generally sceptical of weblinks and emails, especially if they were unsolicited Multi-factor authentication 7 Spend extra time securing your account by setting up multi-factor authentication Credit: Getty A second step of security can never hurt! If you use multi-factor authentication, this will add extra protection to your account. Even if your password does get stolen, this extra layer of verification makes things harder for scammers to access your account.
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Three major car brands slash £1,500 off EV prices in huge boost for millions of Brits
THREE major car brands have slashed the price of some of its electric cars by £1,500, giving a boost to millions of Brits. The move by the Volkswagen Group includes brands from Volkswagen, Skoda and Cupra and comes ahead of the Government's new EV scheme. 4 A £650million grant will knock up to £3,750 off the price of low-priced EVs - with concerns raised over taxpayer funding and infrastructure issues Credit: Getty 4 The Volkswagen ID.3 will see it's price slashed by £1,500 Credit: Getty A new The grant worth £650million in total, which was announced by the government recently, will see prices slashed for some fully electric cars although it is so far unclear which models will be eligible for £1.500 or £3,750 off their respective price tags. It will be dependent on a complex sustainability criteria which is not entirely clear. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander confirmed the Government's new scheme last month. Read More on Motors The Electric Car Grant will offer between £1,500 and £3,750 off qualifying electric vehicles, depending on how sustainably they are made. However, it's not available yet, as carmakers must apply for approval — a process that could take weeks. The Volkswagen EVs that come under the firm's new £1,500 'Grant Guarantee' include the ID.3 in Pure, Pro and Pro trim levels, as well as the ID.4 in both Pro and Pure versions but excluding the GTX from both. The grant of £1,500 means the entry-level ID.3 Pure Essential's price drops to £29,360 while the ID.4 Pure Match is reduced to £38,090. Most read in Motors Meanwhile, the Skoda's brands covered by the grant are the Elroq and Enyag, in SE, SE L, Edition and SportLine trim. The grant means the Elrog's price will start at £30,010 while the Enyag begins at £38,190. Volkswagen launch its new entry-level electric car, the Cupra's models covered by the grant is for the Born hatchback on V1, V2 and V3 trim levels, dropping the asking price to £34,190. The £1,500 'Grant Guarantee' for all three badges runs until August 31. Volkswagen, Skoda and Cupra all state the grant 'will honour the £1,500 grant on the vehicles specified, even if the government's grant is not awarded'. However, buyers won't be able to get both the 'Grant Guarantee' and the government's Electric Car Grant on any of the models, The move by the German car manufacturer follows similar deals or incentives from the likes of Hyundai, According to The scheme will also provide additional support for electric car purchases for Motability customers - Find Your Next Car by What You Can Actually Afford Sun Motors has created the UK's First Finance-First Marketplace * Finance Powered by DSG Finance who are a Credit Broker Not A Lender. Representative 12.9%. Your rate may differ depending on individual circumstances You can check in less than 60 seconds if you are eligible for financing, and then search for your dream used car within your monthly budget. Here's how... Soft credit check , with no impact on your score 60-second decision , get a real finance decision in less than a minute Instant match , only see cars that fit your real budget AI-powered help , get tailored advice, suggestions, and instant answers from an AI advisor called Theo Find out what you can afford in just 60 seconds This has raised concerns among some critics, who argue that taxpayers may effectively be contributing twice - once through the Motability scheme and again through the EV grant subsidies. Furthermore, some welfare users have expressed difficulties with EVs, with issues such as limited home charging facilities and inadequate public charging infrastructure causing frustration for some. There are also several key points to keep in mind before you set out to choose your shiny new discontinued EV. Firstly, the scheme will not be immediately accessible - even though it officially launched on July 16. This is because car brands must apply for eligibility for the vehicles in their ranges, rather than buyers being able to register grants at the point of purchase. Also, not all grants will amount to £3,750 as the scheme adopts a two-tier system, with the value deducted from the recommended retail price (RRP) depending on how environmentally friendly the manufacturing process is for each model. According to the RAC, these restrictions encourage drivers to choose models that are not only cost-effective, but also more sustainable for the planet. Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood has warned that vehicles made in China may not be eligible. Speaking previously on the BBC's Today programme, she said factories powered by coal are unlikely to meet the Government's strict criteria. She added that only brands reaching minimum environmental standards will be approved for taxpayer support. 4 Skoda's Elroq will also see it's price slashed Credit: PR Handout 4 The Cupra Born will now see prices start at £34,190
