For many centuries now, there have been influential inventors such as DaVinci and Brunel whose lifes' work have done such wonders for modern technology and infrastructure.

But modern day inventors have also influenced today's world. The likes of Sir Clive Sinclair and James Dyson have innovated our day to day products and taken technology to a different level.

But if there was one invention that you couldn't live without or thought was of such importance to today's world, then what would it be?

The phone. Call 911 if your dieing! Call the pizza delivery if you have no food!
But my favorite invention is the Wii.

computer duh. keep in touch emails (no need for phone), and msn, videocams (for gio and jas), online television, youtube etc. and otherwise no isketch :eek:

Hmmmm... i'd say the lighter is about the greatest of them all. It's capable of making that which is known as the greatest discovery of all time, fire.

I would go for electricity. This form of energy has lead to an big increased luxurious way of living. Used wisely it gives light, entertainment, warmth etc. used badly, it gives fire, way more than a lighter.:P

Do fire and electricity count as inventions? I see them as discoveries(Still can't live without 'em though...)

I'd have to go with Computer/Internet
The computer has essentially shifted us into a new era (technologically)
And the internet...the amount of information now available (to those who have it..) is almost limitless. If something's not there... you can add it!
Not to mention it's ability to connect people.

Fire and electricity i'd say are discoveries. They're natural phenomena, always there. Invention i believe is something that doesn't happen naturally, like cars, blenders or cigar humidors.

The greatest invention for me has to be the internet

No need for tv, cinema, computing gaming consoles where you can find all kinds of entertainment online

Not to mention all your erotica el_nino!

There's erotica online!? Wow, I've been online for nearly 10 years and never noticed ...

Greatest invention of all time? The wheel - without which many of the other inventions might never make it to the shops to be bought.

Greatest invention of the last few hundred years? The aeroplane - it's made the world smaller, giving people (sadly not me) the chance to visit and live places that previously they couldn't.

I would say glass (in all its forms).

Was glass strictly invented as such? I thought it occurs in nature, didn't we just work out how to make and mould it? Maybe I'm wrong - it happens lol

lol.. I know what I mean, I just can't articulate my thoughts into the written word (must be jet lag :razz:)

OK... what I meant specifically is the invention of the manufacture of glass. For example: the humble window pane. With them, our homes are now protected from the elements.

Argghh... I think I will go back to sleep again :razz: