The Fate of Tyrlon and other Dubious Things

A few weeks ago at church my pastor was talking about the greatest inventions and how on his grandmother’s 100th birthday they asked her what she thought was the greatest invention in her lifetime (since 1908).  There are thousands of things during this time period that could qualify but you know what her answer was?  The washing machine.

I found it kind of interesting to view things from the perspective of someone who grew up and lived through World War 1, The Great Depression, World War 2, the civil rights movement, the assassinations of Martin Luther King and JFK, the Watergate scandal, the gas crisis of the 70s, the Iran-Contra problem, the Cuban Missile crisis and everything in between.

During that same time period personal cars were popularized (remember Henry Ford popularized the automobile in 1914 with his mass production techniques), the computer was invented and went from huge rooms down to the cell phones we have today that can do nearly everything a laptop computer can.  The microwave and the washing machine and dryer were all invented as well as cellophane, instant coffee, “talkies” (movies with sound), color movies, tanks, crossword puzzles, the bra, the zipper, gas masks, stainless steel, toasters and radios that could tune in more than one station.  Add into that band-aids, lie detectors, insulin, traffic lights (hate this invention!) and frozen food and we’ve covered some of the more notable inventions, most of which were from 1908-1925!

It would take too long to list the things invented during the last 100 years, but it certainly has been a time of innovation and I guess if you think about how clothes had to be washed before the washing machine really was a fantastic invention.  The washing machine saved women (a hundred years ago clothes washing was almost exclusively done by women) many hours of time and led to the ability to focus on other tasks.

If I had to pick one invention that I think has had the most affect on me and that I value the most it would be a close tie: the microwave or the computer.  I pick the microwave because it allows me to nuke up some food in 2-4 minutes and is just a fantastic time saver.  The computer of course is how I earn my living and I enjoy working with them, on them, and playing games as well.

What are your favorite inventions of the last 100 years?  Which one affects you the most?

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