Most useful invention of the last 2 decades

[ozzy72]

Well there was a survey in the UK, and a big surprise is that the most useful invention of the past two decades is....

The smoke detector!
Second was mobile phones
Third microwave ovens

It seems Britons consider safety in the home the most important thing. How terribly sensible

[ATI_7500]

Crazy bunch of people... :-/

[Hagar]

I wonder how this survey was worded. Probably a list of examples & you pick one out. I forget what they call it but that seems the most common way of doing everything these days, even important exams. If someone asked me outright what I thought was the most useful invention in the last 2 decades I would have to go away & give it some thought. I couldn't give a suitable answer right off the cuff.

Crazy bunch of people... :-/

You said it. We're crazy & proud of it.

[Craig.]

multiple choice is the term your looking for i think

Even thinking about it, what has been developed in the last 20 years that can be called useful. Smoke detector is definatly the winner in my opinion. Look how many lives have been saved

[Hagar]

multiple choice is the term your looking for i think

Multiple choice. Thank you. A one in four (or five) chance of getting the correct answer even if you know nothing. Not bad odds I would say. This is the least useful invention over the last 2 decades. IMHO

[Craig.]

just a shame the lottery doesnt have those odds:)

[WebbPA]

How long is a decade in England?  Consumer microwave ovens have been around for over 30 years.

[Hagar]

[quote]How long is a decade in England?

[BFMF]

I purchased mine in 1984 & still use it every day.

PS. The warranty is probably out of date by now.

My grandparents recently had to buy a new microwave to replace their old one. I don't remember excactly how old it was, but it was older then me!:o

[Professor Brensec]

In the last 2 decades, it's got to be VIAGRA!!!!!  ;D

[xFLAMESx]

Metallica or InFlames, although neither are officially inventions - i don't actually own any of the others so.......

[Iroquois]

I'd have to say DVDs as one. I hate tapes because my VCR always manages to chew up my favorite movies.

[Woodlouse2002]

My grandmother once blew up her microwave (and nearly asphixiated herself) by trying to cook a christmas pudding in it.

[Hagar]

My grandmother once blew up her microwave (and nearly asphixiated herself) by trying to cook a christmas pudding in it.

Microwaves are fine for Christmas puds providing you don't overdo it. This can be highly dangerous as your grandma found out.

This reminds me of when my Mum lit the gas oven with a tin of peas in it. This was before we had a fridge & she used the oven for extra storage. After a few minutes there was a huge explosion which blew the cast iron oven door right off its hinges. There were peas all over the kitchen - a terrible mess. Lucky nobody was hurt although my Dad was shaving at the time & cut himself with the razor. Don't try this at home.