Greatest Inventions Ever

[Tank]

Took a moment to figure out ICE but I would agree. But then surly salt and food preservation would be the generalised discovery?

Internal combustion engine. Being too lazy to type it out just leads to needing to clarify... And me, I never learn

Personally, I'd lump food preservation with organised farming, but yes, a valid point.

I would agree with the ICE, but one should also add the gas turbine or simply a turbine to that. And not to forget the electric generator/motor and electric light.

[joeactor]

... anyone mention Plumbing or Sewers (aqueducts?)

[Asmodean]

... anyone mention Plumbing or Sewers (aqueducts?)

That right there. Throw in water filtration and irrigation while at it.

[hismikeness]

Fire.

More specifically the controlling of fire. It can be argued that humanity's insides and outsides are the way they are because food was cooked over fire and warmth was provided by it.

Is it a stretch to call it an invention though?

[elliebean]

Music is the greatest invention ever; without it, the rest wouldn't amount to much.

[joeactor]

Fire.

More specifically the controlling of fire. It can be argued that humanity's insides and outsides are the way they are because food was cooked over fire and warmth was provided by it.

Is it a stretch to call it an invention though?

Fire's more of a discovery... but I'd argue that controlling and creating it could fall into the invention category...

[fester30]

Your top ten list obviously forgot Skype, which should easily replace clothing.  Trust me, the best webcam conversations are often missing clothing!
On a more serious note, how about the ability to control and use electricity?  Obviously we didn't invent electricity, but when we learned to control and use it, we were able to develop things like lightbulbs, radios, circuit boards, Las Vegas, and porn movies.

[The Magic Pudding]

You had to have non written language before written.
Clothes, steeling other critters skin has been useful.
Multitudinous uses of sticks (wiggles cricket bat).
Agriculture.

[terranus]

Hmm...I'd go one step further than Skype and say the Internet in general. A 1000 years from now, what will students in school be learning about our times? What will they be called?

Answer: The Communication Revolution.

Never in recorded history have humans been able to communicate as effectively as we can today.

[Asmodean]

Your top ten list obviously forgot Skype, which should easily replace clothing.  Trust me, the best webcam conversations are often missing clothing!
On a more serious note, how about the ability to control and use electricity?  Obviously we didn't invent electricity, but when we learned to control and use it, we were able to develop things like lightbulbs, radios, circuit boards, Las Vegas, and porn movies.

You know, where I sit, clothes are somewhat more important since they contribute to me not dying of hypotermia before I can even log on Skype.  

[Cecilie]

Your top ten list obviously forgot Skype, which should easily replace clothing.  Trust me, the best webcam conversations are often missing clothing!
On a more serious note, how about the ability to control and use electricity?  Obviously we didn't invent electricity, but when we learned to control and use it, we were able to develop things like lightbulbs, radios, circuit boards, Las Vegas, and porn movies.

You know, where I sit, clothes are somewhat more important since they contribute to me not dying of hypotermia before I can even log on Skype.  

Not that where I live is very cold, but this.

[Asmodean]

Not that where I live is very cold, but this.

I wrote my response while smoking on the balcony with laptop in one hand and smokes in the other and the temperature of about -5 Celsius all around.  

[Cecilie]

Not that where I live is very cold, but this.

I wrote my response while smoking on the balcony with laptop in one hand and smokes in the other and the temperature of about -5 Celsius all around.  

It's 4 degrees here.

[junaidshiekh]

thats obvious.  Internet for without it facebook, google, twitter, online business, and the list goes on and on!!!

[LegendarySandwich]

The greatest invention ever is...boobies!  

But no, seriously, I'd have to say it's probably language/communication.