Five Revolutionary 21st Century Inventions
Inventions that Changed the World
When you watch those retrospectives that shows what the 21st century might be like from a 1950's point of view, it is amazing how close-- and how far, those predictions were! Flying cars or not, we are not even two decades in to the 21st century and already enjoy some of the most exciting inventions we've ever seen.
Electronic Cigarettes
Had they been invented yet, the electronic cigarette would have been center stage of the 1950's. You almost can't picture movie legends like John Wayne without their cigarette, which became a symbol of glamour and sophistication. Unfortunately, they did not know the health hazards of traditional cigarettes nor have the alternatives of today. Surly, had they had the alternative, Hollywood royalty would have adopted the e cigarette with much enthusiasm as something that they could take and use anywhere without causing offensive odors or endangering the health of others with second hand smoke. While a small and unassuming invention, electronic cigarettes are poised to improve the lives of many, many people and that is why it is one of our top five inventions of the 21st century.
iPhone
I guess iphone is sort of a misnomer, because what makes it so revolutionary is that it is so much more. The iPhone hit the market in 2007 and enjoyed an incredible revolution. The phone lets users take their world on the go, whether it is music, photos, work or more. It defined connectivity in a new way with a myriad of functions and advanced capabilities. Already, it is hard to remember what life was like before the iPhone.
Love it or hate it, you still can't live without FaceBook. The 2004 social networking development connects friends and family and serves as a marketing platform for most companies. It is the ultimate is social sharing, with incredible applications for sharing pictures and promoting business. Yeah, we wish we thought of it, too.
Bionic Hand
Invented by David Gow in 2007, the iLIMB is the first artificial hand able to grip oddly shaped objects with five individually powered fingers. Not only is the invention set to change the world of those needing artificial limbs, but the technology also has huge potential throughout science. In fact, it was named one of Popular Science Magazine's best innovations of 2007. Total fist bump on this one.
Driverless Car
It does not fly, but it does drive itself. Google's driverless car, a Toyota Prius equipped with radar sensors, video cameras, and a laser range finder, is the next step in transportation. With the huge toll that accidents take on our economy and our lives, it is no wonder why Google set out to create a safer and more efficient transportation system.
Today, you can get in your driverless car, enjoy your disposable e cigarette, while connecting to FaceBook on your iPhone! Its okay 1950's America—we could not have envisioned it either.